a questo sito c'è in aggiornamento come stanno andando le cose alla riunione, un primo sunto per quel che riguarda i marchi Europei (Fiat Alfa Lancia) è questo:
http://www.allpar.com/cars/adopted/fiat ... iance.html
Chrysler-Fiat Alliance
by David Zatz. Revised November 3, 2009. Also see “Fiat cars and trucks.”
The Grand Plan
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, and Dodge Caliber will all be permanently dropped in 2012. The PT Cruiser will also be dropped — and the Dodge Caravan will be phased out. Chrysler will instead sell Fiat-based compact and mid-sized cars made in the US, and the Town & Country will be the sole minivan. The Charger and Challenger, according to this report, will continue. Fiat will base an Alfa Romeo and a
Lancia on the Chrysler LX platform. The Dodge brand will thus be focused on muscle and trucks, Chrysler on cars and minivans (without upmarket aspirations), Jeep will stay in its niche, and Alfa Romeo will rejoin American shores with high end versions of cars sold as Chryslers — the Acura of the Chrysler Group.
It now appears that the LX itself will be re-engineered in Italy to remove Daimler dependencies and reduce the cost or make it more compatible with Euroneeds. An analysis is in our weblogs.
The new Chrysler Group
Chrysler Group LLC is now 55% owned by a pension fund, 20% by Fiat, 25% by the U.S. Treasury and Canadian government. The pension fund, which has no voting rights, plans to sell their equity as soon as it is economically feasible.
Fiat will get, at long last, a full-sized Alfa Romeo design and one third of Chrysler Group, as well as serious access to one of the world’s largest auto markets. Chrysler also benefits, getting the small cars which, thanks to nine years under Daimler, they could no longer create on their own, and access to worldwide markets. Together, the two companies will be in a much stronger position because their technologies, markets, and products are almost completely different, but both are mass-production manufacturers.
Fiat’s Case/New Holland and Latin American production show that Fiat is very much unlike Daimler in its handling of subsidiaries; they seem to prefer mutual profitability to ego and domination. Fiat officials have repeatedly visited Chrysler plants, getting off the guided tour and talking to regular line employees; and they have reportedly been very impressed with what they’ve seen.
The current plan is to essentially merge
Lancia and Chrysler in Europe; both are headed by the same person, and Lancia will start using Chrysler vehicles as a basis for their own larger offerings. Likewise, the largest Alfa Romeo will be based on the Chrysler LX, and built in the United States.
Projected Alfa Romeo version of 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee (courtesy JackRatchett)
We expect that Chrysler’s currently weak areas will be replaced or supplemented with Fiat technologies (small cars and compact cars), while truck, large car, minivan, and crossover operations will continue “as is,” supplemented by Iveco commercial trucks.
Sergio Marchionne is CEO of both Chrysler and Fiat. He has shaken up the management structure, giving the brands independent leadership once again. His approach appears to be giving executives multiple jobs, e.g. in charge of both a brand and overall sales, or a brand and overall product planning, or two brands (one in Europe and one in North America). Numerous executives have left suddenly under his restructurings, and some Fiat people have been brought in at high levels.
The Chrysler brand will continue for the moment, but in the future it may be replaced or joined by
Lancia and/or Alfa Romeo (especially in Europe), while the Fiat brand will be used only on the 500 series small cars — which will be sold at Chrysler (not Dodge) dealerships. Chrysler will have little, if any, engineering responsibility for the A/B (small) cars, as far as we can tell.
The new C/D (compact and midsized) cars are an open question. For the moment, the Avenger/Sebring will be reworked to extend their life to at least 2012; they might even continue longer, until a next-generation, mutually engineered platform and architecture is ready for Chrysler, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo vehicles. The Avenger/Sebring’s perceived weak points — engines and styling — can be remedied with the Pentastar V6, Fiat’s four-cylinders, and a reskinning. The Chrylser PT Cruiser will reportedly also continue under Fiat rule, with a substantial upgrade for model year 2011; one would expect and hope (though this is mere speculation) that the trademark teardrop headlights would return, the interior would be restyled to be closer to the more-successful original, and perhaps a Fiat engine or (and this is the least likely) the smallest Pentastar V6 would be fitted.
A nine-member Board of Directors includes three directors appointed by Fiat, four directors appointed by the U.S., one director appointed by Canada, and one director appointed by the Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (VEBA). The Board is expected to name C. Robert Kidder as Chairman.
Automotive News learned that Chrysler plans to use six Fiat models. One is the Fiat Panda Cross, a diesel off-road vehicle that gets nearly 40 mpg and would likely be sold as a Jeep in 2011 with a 1.2 or 1.4 liter gasoline engine. For details and photos of these cars, see our Fiat Cars page.
The Fiat 500 may be the first new arrival. Roberto Giolito, designer of the popular 500, said (June 30, 2009) that Chrysler will build four versions of the mini-car beginning in 2011. The lineup will include the standard 500 hatchback, a convertible, a station wagon and a sporty “tuner” hatch based on the Abarth version of the 500. According to Fiat, an all-wheel-drive CUV is a possibility. All the versions will be sold as Fiats. Production may be at a plant in the U.S. or at Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico assembly facility.
Other vehicles, all of which would be built in the United States, would likely include:
A hatchback due in calendar-year 2011; 38 mpg is expected with a 1.2 or 1.4 liter engine (based on the Grand Punto).
A four-door sedan, possibly replacing the Caliber, based on the Grande Punto.
Compass replacement: a new compact SUV based on the C-Evo platform (along with the Grande Punto and Linea), arriving around 2012, with front wheel drive and all wheel drive versions.
A four-door sedan due in 2012, possibly replacing the Sebring and Avenger. This is based on a stretched version of the C-Evo platform which is the basis for the Grande Punto and Linea. This plan may have been dropped as the Avenger/Sebring basic platform and architecture appears to be viable.
Other vehicles might be made and sold under the Fiat and Alfa labels.
The magazine also suggested that four Alfa Romeos (MiTo, Milano, Giulia, and a compact SUV) might be sold under their own names, but built in North America. Fiat is, however, no longer interested in buying Sterling Heights.
Fiat will use the LX platform for an upcoming, long-planned Alfa Romeo, and will have its own version of the Grand Cherokee; there may be other “sharing.” In the US, Fiat will sell most vehicles under the Alfa brand, with just the 500 showing up as a Fiat.
Lancia may return, as well as (or instead of) Alfa Romeo.
Chrysler will also import Fiat vans to replace the Mercedes-Freightliner Sprinter. Currently under discussion are two vans, one that competes with the Sprinter and one that competes with the Ford Transit.
The Alfa Romeo version of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 200C
Dan Minick wrote in early 2009:
The successor to the big Alfa 166 (executive sized 4-door), is the 2012 Alfa 169. It was suppossed to have been launched in 2009. For several years, Alfa has been poking around looking for a suitable platform' on which to base it. They want a return to rear wheel drive. The Maserati Q platform has been deemed too expensive. Talks were held with Daimler several years ago, and a plan was underway to base it off of an E-class platform, but in 2007 agreements broke off with Daimler due to difference of opinions and plans. So, the search for a suitable platform was under way again.
If you are familiar with the relationship between the Mercedes E, the new Mercedes CLS, and the Chrysler LX, we can probably draw some dotted lines as to another reason the Fiat/Chrysler alliance keeps moving forward.
The Fiat-Chrysler deal: why Fiat?
by David Zatz
Outside of Jeep, Chrysler did not, after years of Daimler domination, have a serious presence outside North America, and with no domestic minicars. Chrysler’s international momentum of the 1990s, including a thriving business in China, was dropped by Daimler.
Under both DCX and Cerberus, Chrysler said it needed a collaborator to make a small car, and was working to badge-engineer with Nissan, Chery, and possibly others. Constant engineering reductions also left Chrysler without a strong mid-sized entry — where Chrysler used to dominate with the Valiant, Duster, and Dart, and put up a strong fight with the Reliant, Neon, and Cirrus/Stratus.
Fiat is one of the few companies that did not compete against Chrysler in any meaningful way. The two have barely any geographical overlap and even less product overlap.
Today's Fiats are not the poorly assembled cars of the 1970s. They are technologically advanced, well-made, and solid.
The new cars will be made in the U.S. and Mexico at Chrysler plants. Fiat engines will be made in Dundee, as far as we know. The array of technologies gained by this is impressive to say the least, and includes diesels. There will be no need to link up with Chinese companies that will soon become competitors.
Chrysler will get small and mid-sized cars, small engines, lightweight transmissions, new fuel saving technologies, new distribution channels with established names, and an equity owner that has an interest in Chrysler's success, with no emotional need to destroy the company, and a history of successfully managing American companies.
There are concerns. This will make Chrysler seem foreign-owned again. Fiat will get up to 35% of Chrysler regardless, but they can buy the VEBA’s shares as they are put onto the market and end up with over 50% ownership (though if they are smart, they will not go over 49%, which would make Chrysler foreign-owned and take it off the stock index funds that would normally hold Chrysler stock after a public offering). Both parties in Congress seem to want to destroy the company, since President Obama rejected Congress’ demand to put Chrysler into liquidation — and both parties appear to believe industry is unnecessary to America’s economic future.
Management changes (June 2009)
Each brand (and Mopar Parts / Service) will get a president and CEO, with full profit and loss responsibility, to avoid “free rides.” Marchionne said, "Control over commercial and industrial investments is related to the brand. Therefore we have developed a matrix-based organization where team work and a disciplined management process are at the core of its success. Understanding the management decision-making process and individual roles are key."
June and October 2009:
Peter Fong was promoted from Director of the Mid-Atlantic Business Center to be President and CEO, Chrysler Brand, and leader of Chrysler Group sales (replacing Steve Landry, who will stay on for the transition). He was replaced after a few months in both roles by Fiat man and current Lancia CEO Olivier Francois. In Europe, the Chrysler and
Lancia brands are reportedly to be combined.
Michael Manley, formerly in charge of international sales and global product planning, took over Jeep and Chrysler Group product planning, coordinating product planning for all three brands. Joseph Veltri, product planning lead and head of truck/SUV product planning since July, was put in charge of product planning across the group. Veltri joined Chrysler in 1988 as an analyst, leaving KPMG to take the post; he was later put in charge of Dodge Truck marketing and product planning.
Michael Accavitti, formerly Dodge marketing director, was in charge of Dodge and C.G.-wide marketing, advertising, and brand development. He lasted only a few months before being replaced by Ralph Gilles, who will also lead design.
Pietro Gorlier, of Fiat and Case New Holland, has been placed in charge of Mopar parts and service, and customer service as a whole.
Fred Diaz, a 20-year Chrysler veteran from the sales, service, marketing, and customer relations side, was put in charge of the new Ram brand.
Engineering and manufacturing
Scott Kunselman, formerly truck product team leader, leads product and advance engineering, replacing Frank Klegon, who will retire. Ralph Gilles continues to lead the design. Frank Ewasyshyn continues to lead manufacturing, Doug Betts continues to lead quality, and Scott Garberding continues to lead procurement.
Michael Keegan, former volume planning and sales operations head, leads supply chain management, including volume planning and logistics, “driving dramatic improvements in service levels, working capital efficiency and complexity reduction; optimizing demand and supply to benefit balancing the needs and requirements of the individual brands...”
Mark Chernoby leads C/D Segment (C and D refers to compact and midsized vehicles, not Chrysler and Dodge) Product Engineering — covering Caliber, Patriot, Compass, Avenger/Sebring, and any future vehicles in the class.
Sales, service, and support functions
Chrysler de Mexico and Chrysler Canada are still led by Joe ChamaSrour and Reid Bigland, respectively.
Peter Grady leads dealerships and fleet sales; he moves up from heading Franchise Planning and Administration.
Richard Palmer leads Finance as CFO; a former Fiat man, Palmer replaced Ron Kolka, who is staying with the bankrupt Chrysler LLC.
Jan Bertsch continues to be Treasurer and CIO.
Holly Leese continues to lead Legal.
Gualberto Ranieri, another Fiat man who worked with Case New Holland, leads Communications, taking over from Nancy Rae, who continues to lead Human Resources.
Laurie Macaddino leads Audit; she was the Vice President, Finance Operations.
John T. Bozzella continues to lead External Affairs.
Barb Pilarski leads Business Development; she was recently Executive Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, NAFTA and South America.