Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne (pictured) has apparently wasted little time putting his stamp on Chrysler Group LLC.
Marchionne, who took the top job at Chrysler earlier this month when the automaker emerged from Chapter 11 aligned with Fiat, has compressed eight layers of management into five and has begun making product decisions,
according to a story in the Detroit Free Press. The executive according to the report intends to use Fiat designs as the basis for the next generation of Chrysler products including the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Caliber, while bringing versions of Fiat's small 500 and Panda to the U.S.
The automaker also intends to go upscale using Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand to compete against luxury European cars in North America.
The moves are no surprise, but they are encouraging. Chrysler has a fresh balance sheet, but its long-term viability is still threatened by a stale product line that seems unlikely to drive customers to the showroom. If Marchionne can succeed in bringing Italian designs to the U.S. market, the restructuring of Chrysler could wind up a success. -
Lou Whiteman
Lou Whiteman is a senior writer covering the automotive, transportation and industrial sectors. Follow him on Twitter @louwhiteman
Join Corporate Dealmaker's LinkedIn forum
Juergen Lasowski
And the winners are...
What does this article writer mean...Chrysler has a "stale product line"??
Chrysler sold about 2 Million vehicles last year, so millions of people are going to their show rooms! And they are 4th largest seller in the us, and also the number 1 selling brand in Canada! Do your homework Whiteman!