That added stake would be sliced from a healthcare fund associated with the United Auto Workers. VEBA, which currently owns 41.5 percent of Chrysler, was established to handle the UAW's retiree healthcare, but it is not directly controlled by the union.
No price has yet been determined for that 3.3 percent share, but Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News that it will not cost the company more than $253 million. Fiat hopes to fully integrate with Chrysler, but Marchionne says that won't happen this year.
Fiat should have the extra cash on hand to pull off the purchase as it announced earlier today that it is cutting its European investments by $632 million this year.
