Outsiders stepping in from that center of business acumen and industry, Italy, to reinvigorate American business practices is a nuance that hasn’t gotten much play in the recent Big Auto Quagmire while more disturbing stories (like cement shoes for debt-holders) made the rounds. But now that it is clear that progress demanded changes in long-standing rules of the financial road (at the expense of certain politically unpopular elements) let’s get down to the business of letting Fiat’s genius show us the way. What do your management geniuses have for us first, Fiat?
Fiat SpA may use designs or technology from General Motors Corp.’s Opel in future Chrysler LLC models as part of a global auto alliance, people familiar with the discussions said.
Uh… so… you want to take something Big Auto owned already, and pull it into Chrysler, which Big Auto used to own? This is the genius management expertise we needed? (Actually, after a little reflection on the last few members of Big Auto senior management we remember, this is a relative improvement).
The talks involve folding GM and Fiat’s European and Latin American operations into a new company, said the people, who asked not to be identified because details aren’t public. GM wants 40 percent of the new company, while Turin, Italy-based Fiat’s preference is to give 30 percent, two people said.
Adapting Opel designs for Chrysler vehicles would form a tight link between GM and the Fiat-Chrysler venture, spreading costs among more models to save money. Global sales for GM, Fiat and Chrysler were about 12.4 million in 2008, topping the 8.97 million of Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest automaker.
More revenue than Toyota? That’s where its at! If the last 8 years have taught us anything it is that bigger is better! Bigger cars. Bigger companies. Too big to fail. Big revenues. (Profits to follow after big delays).
Fiat Said to Study Use of Designs From GM’s Opel for Chrysler [Bloomberg]
yeah lets combine US technology with Italian efficiency and German design it will definitely compete with toyota!
Gelato holders in every Firebird!
In Heaven, the cooks are French, the police are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, and the bankers are Swiss. But in Hell, the cooks are English, the police are German, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, and the bankers are Italian.
And in Detroit….
The profitmakers are Italian, the debtholders are American, the supervisors are Germans and the employed are Latinos.
I’m President Obama, what is senior secured debt holder?
All future board meetings to be held in their parent’s basement…
Actually all of the Big 3 have been trying (aaaand failing) to get that whole modular platform sharing crap working for the past 20 years, and Opel actually makes some interesting cars, although at this point Holden may be more interesting of a play than any of the other parts of GM.
Surely, this will all end in tears (mostly for suppliers and debt holders)
Belay the snarky remarks about the homeland, toots. Italy was the birthplace of modern banking. And its GDP currently exceeds the UK.
Switching existing succssful platforms to an expanded array of currently ill-used production facilities makes mlore sense than tring to re-invent the wheel.
In addition to inventing modern banking, the Italians also invented the helicopter. That explains why its blades go wop-wop-wop-wop
Well, we also seem to have imported their fascism, so you might be onto something.
@7 – they also invented manipulating numbers – like they did to get into Maastricht.
I would put more confidence in a Serie A match not ending 0-0 than I would in any figure released by the Italian government.
i fully support the fiat tie-up!
- charles “gaspagool” gasparino
Fascism, doh!
[Cue sounds of goosestepping. Or perhaps a sad trombone?]
Hey, EP, I think @7 is Gasparino. He called you “toots.” You should be so proud. When’s the wedding?
@7 – What source are you using for UK vs Italian GDPs? I think the UK still is the taller midget – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)
But you are right – Italy is the birthplace of modern banking; that’s why they shout “Were #1″
buy crysler cars or you’ll sleep with the fishes, capice?
Wow. What qualifies you to judge an entire nation? Fess up to your own amazing record of business acumen and industry, if it is so great. If you’ve got it all sorted out, how come YOU are not part of the solution? There’s a reason you were chosen to stand on the sidelines. When you’re big enough to play with the big boys, then is the time you earn the right to issue these sorts of judgements. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, well, they’ve got nothing better to do than whine about it in their blog.