Dramatically bucking the global trend of poor September sales, Italian automaker Fiat announced an increase in European sales last month over the same period in 2007. CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters gathered in Milan that the company is still on target to reach its 2008 sales goals, including a newly revised expected profit of 3.6 billion euros (up from 3.4 billion).
Buoyed by continued strong sales of the 500 minicar, which will soon have an extra-efficient diesel version, Fiat will announce official sales numbers tomorrow. Sales were down 6 percent in the automaker’s native Italy, but French new Fiat registrations were up dramatically – 46.7 percent – thanks to government incentives for smaller, less-polluting cars.
Marchionne, credited by many with saving Fiat, expressed his doubts on the possible merger between Chrysler LLC and General Motors.
“I don’t know what it will resolve,” he told Reuters. Fiat has been rumored as a potential partner for Chrysler, though there has been no official comment on the matter.
10/14, 3:22 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
LMAO. Fiat a couple days ago was asking for government handouts. Guess they can kiss that one arrivederci.
10/14, 3:34 PM
posted by:
inline6
A Chrysler-Fiat tie-up would be a MUCH better idea than a GM-Chrysler tie-up.
And good for Fiat. They’re making good cars again. I hope that we’ll get some of them (besides the Ferraris, Masers, and $250k Alfas) soon. A Chrysler tie-up would help those chances.
10/14, 4:01 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I’ll take a Mi.To.
10/14, 5:32 PM
posted by:
inline6
Not to mention that Fiat is an expert company at building small cars. Small cars are EXACTLY what Chrysler needs right now…and damn good ones.
10/14, 6:03 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
That 500 needs to be sold in the USA now!!!!!!
10/14, 9:31 PM
posted by:
sharpie
It won’t pass U.S. safety regulations.
10/15, 7:18 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Fiat never made reliable cars… some had passion, but for a while none were good either…
500 is a nice lil car though.