Elkann credits Sergio with saving Italian auto industry

2397 Views 70 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Adventurer55, 19 d ago

aldo90731

Discussion Starter · 23 d ago

Without Marchionne's efforts to change Fiat and make it less dependent on its home country and Europe, Stellantis would not have been possible, Elkann says.

www.autonews.com

Former FCA boss Sergio Marchionne saved Italy's auto industry, Elkann says

Stellantis, formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, is the evolution of Sergio Marchionne's vision to build a global leader strong enough to survive the industry's disruption, John Elkann said.

www.autonews.com

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aldo90731

Discussion Starter · #2 · 23 d ago

Hmmm...Sergio surely saved Elkann’s family fortune, but he exported Italy’s auto industry problems. Particularly to North America.

He was energetic, opinionated, and perhaps a good accountant, but with every passing day it becomes more clear that Marchionne did not understand the basics of marketing, branding, product planning, long-term strategy, the value of customer service, the value of product quality, or how to operate within the confines of the law.

Reactions: 5

Dave Z

· #3 · 23 d ago

I'm not seeing this patting-myself-on-the-back-for-hiring-him as newsworthy.

Reactions: 5

aldo90731

Discussion Starter · #4 · 23 d ago

Elkann was being interviewed at the release of Marchionne’s new biography.

I’m sure he was trying to express his gratitude to Marchionne for keeping him a very rich man and, in the process, took the opportunity to wrap himself in the Italian flag for the cameras.

Reactions: 5

Erik Latranyi

· #5 · 23 d ago

aldo90731 said:
Elkann was being interviewed at the release of Marchionne’s new biography.

I’m sure he was trying to express his gratitude to Marchionne for keeping him a very rich man and, in the process, took the opportunity to wrap himself in the Italian flag for the cameras.

They also have major labor disputes in Italy that are growing in magnituude.....part of this is a PR campaign on that front as well

Reactions: 4

Donte Lindsey

· #6 · 23 d ago

Meh I don't think he was that great. Most of the brands were living like welfare recipients. Not to mention the cons he did to keep him and the Elkhan family rich.

Reactions: 5

jimboy

· #7 · 23 d ago

I'll just keep saying it, Sergio Marchionne was an employee of John Elkann, his primary duty and loyalty was to his employer. He did that very well! Every thing else is just fluff.
John Elkann is entirely right to congratulate Sergio, especially as the man died in the saddle, so to speak. It was the very least He could do.

Reactions: 5

Elroy the Brave

· #8 · 23 d ago

Didn't Sergio spend a small fortune developing Alfa Romeo Guilia, with the promise it would bring a platform for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger?

I guess it provided a platform for the new Grand Cherokee.

But otherwise, what a colossal waste. It's too bad that Sergio was obsessed with chasing BMW:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Giulia_(952)#Sales

Reactions: 4

77 Monaco Brougham

· #9 · 23 d ago

Dave Z said:
I'm not seeing this patting-myself-on-the-back-for-hiring-him as newsworthy.

Of course King John...OOPS!...I mean Mr. Elkann is going to speak glowingly of SM. Proverbially speaking, SM was "The Black Prince" who did all of King John's dirty work for him.

Mr. Elkann needs to pat himself on the back probably because no one else will do it!

77 Monaco Brougham

· #10 · 23 d ago

Elroy the Brave said:
Didn't Sergio spend a small fortune developing Alfa Romeo Guilia, with the promise it would bring a platform for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger?

I guess it provided a platform for the new Grand Cherokee.

But otherwise, what a colossal waste. It's too bad that Sergio was obsessed with chasing BMW:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Giulia_(952)#Sales

For me, the two words that best describe Sergio's relentless chasing of BMW, Audi and the like:

PRIDEFUL EGO

Reactions: 5

Stéphane Dumas

· #11 · 23 d ago

77 Monaco Brougham said:
For me, the two words that best describe Sergio's relentless chasing of BMW, Audi and the like:

PRIDEFUL EGO

Did he got a more bigger prideful ego than Carlos Ghosn?

Reactions: 2

77 Monaco Brougham

· #12 · 23 d ago

Stéphane Dumas said:
Did he got a more bigger prideful ego than Carlos Ghosn?

Good question. But, for me, the more immediate and pressing question is:

How much...if any...of Carlos Ghosn's prideful ego rub off on Carlos Tavares?

aldo90731

Discussion Starter · #13 · 23 d ago

77 Monaco Brougham said:
Good question. But, for me, the more immediate and pressing question is:

How much...if any...of Carlos Ghosn's prideful ego rub off on Carlos Tavares?

Carlos Tavares left Nissan because of Carlos Ghosn.

Reactions: 4

aldo90731

Discussion Starter · #14 · 23 d ago

Carlos Ghosn sucked all the air in the room and didn’t let his underlings shine.

Carlos Tavares and José Muñoz, now the heads of Stellantis and Hyundai, respectively, came from under Ghosn’s shadow.

I met Muñoz a few times when he was first at Nissan Mexicana and later at Nissan USA: he is very smart, hardworking and self-deprecating.

Muñoz speaks English with a thick Spanish accent, like most Spaniards do. The staff at Nissan USA didn’t really appreciate him.

Reactions: 3

Erik Latranyi

· #15 · 23 d ago

Elroy the Brave said:
Didn't Sergio spend a small fortune developing Alfa Romeo Guilia, with the promise it would bring a platform for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger?

I guess it provided a platform for the new Grand Cherokee.

No.

The Giula platform, known as Giorgio, was not used for the Grand Cherokee. They share nothing in common.

Reactions: 2

aldo90731

Discussion Starter · #16 · 23 d ago

Erik Latranyi said:
No.

The Giula platform, known as Giorgio, was not used for the Grand Cherokee. They share nothing in common.

Well, perhaps that sales of both are declining...?

Reactions: 5

68RT

· #17 · 23 d ago

77 Monaco Brougham said:
Of course King John...OOPS!...I mean Mr. Elkann is going to speak glowingly of SM. Proverbially speaking, SM was "The Black Prince" who did all of King John's dirty work for him.

Mr. Elkann needs to pat himself on the back probably because no one else will do it!

Hope he doesn't dislocate his arm patting himself on the back.

Reactions: 3

Erik Latranyi

· #18 · 22 d ago

aldo90731 said:
Well, perhaps that sales of both are declining...?

I think this is the first time that a new Grand Cherokee has launched to a decline in sales. With the addition of the 3-row at the same time, that is a massive failure in the making.

Reactions: 4

Zagnut27

· #19 · 22 d ago

Erik Latranyi said:
No.

The Giula platform, known as Giorgio, was not used for the Grand Cherokee. They share nothing in common.

I‘m sure they share some things…like maybe some screws. As in, “let’s screw this customer, and let’s screw that customer.”

Reactions: 1

Elroy the Brave

· #20 · 22 d ago

Erik Latranyi said:
No.

The Giula platform, known as Giorgio, was not used for the Grand Cherokee. They share nothing in common.

OK. Maybe this had incorrect information?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCA_Giorgio_platform

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