Marchionne: Fiat and Alfa, 2010 profits
According to CEO Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler dealers who are among the 200 new Fiat franchisees will get a second brand: Alfa Romeo.
Speaking at a press event in Toldeo, Ohio, today, Marchionne said, “It’s more than likely that Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands will be sold in the same [dealerships].”
Alfa, which is due to reenter the U.S. market in 2012, would give dealers a second car, the Giulia, the replacement for the current 159, to sell alongside the 500, which will be the only Fiat vehicle initially offered in the U.S.
In other remarks, Marchionne said it will be difficult for Chrysler to achieve a net profit for the year. The automaker has posted back-to-back quarterly operating profits but a number of factors, including costs of new vehicle development and large interest payments, make a net profit unlikely in 2010.
