Independent Ferrari May Be Forced To Build Economy Cars

Word that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is spinning off Ferrari to make it an independent automaker pleased shareholders but has us a bit worried. Ferrari, part of the Fiat family since 1969, has been making amazing cars lately, and revenues are up. But the company’s longstanding practice of strictly limiting production to favor exclusivity over volume may give way to shareholder demands for increased production—and revenue.

That’s troubling, and not just because Ferrari—which built only 6,922 cars last year—always has had the mystique of the unattainable. An independent Ferrari cranking out more cars would suddenly find itself subjected to America’s strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, which place increasingly tough fuel efficiency requirements on automakers. If shareholders want Ferrari to grow, its cars will have to become significantly more fuel-efficient. Ferraris are beautiful. They are fast. They are nimble. And they are thirsty.

JDMUSMuscle - 11/4/2014 2:54:08 PM

-2 Boost

This is most likely the worst nightmare for the Europe worshippers. What if Ferrari ends up making more and more ugly cars that look like Ferrari FF (Which look a lot like last gen Mazda models)? And all with 100 horsepowers in order to compete with Toyota Corolla?

BMW is now just one of those companies that make appliances, VW sucks as always, and now Ferrari.

Soon, the people shall finally come to realize that Toyota/Lexus reliability & styling is truly what the people really want in cars.

skytop - 11/4/2014 7:34:47 PM

+2 Boost

Every Ferrari car built is almost all pre-sold. What would Ferrari need to sell econo boxes on wheels?

MDarringer - 11/4/2014 7:58:47 PM

+1 Boost

Making Ferrari independent is IDIOCY.

MDarringer - 11/4/2014 8:02:57 PM

+1 Boost

If Marchionne had any brains--and he DOESN'T--Alfa Romeo would have been a sub-premium brand like Acura or Subaru. Maserati would have been BMW and Ferrari...Porsche. Bringing Ferrari's cache to a wider audience does not dilute the brand.

Porsche is doing things that should dilute their brand--building SUVs and a sedan--but the Porsche brand value has GROWN.

ParadoX - 11/4/2014 8:03:26 PM

+3 Boost

Oh please, if they are spun off, I am sure a large company will buy them. Ferrari will need access to the technology, manufacturing capabilities, and capital.

iamdabest1 - 11/4/2014 10:06:29 PM

+2 Boost

if lambo needed vw im pretty sure ferrari will need help as well..

TomM - 11/5/2014 8:29:44 AM

+1 Boost

While they are going to spin off Ferrari - I thought that they were only going to sell 10% of stock and retain 90% of it. On that basis - it is really not selling off control - and FIAT needs Ferrari for the Maserati engines anyway.

Ferrari is a super elite company that should be compared to Rolls Royce it its Niche - and Lamborghini - not Porsche. Porsche was making smaller 914's 50 years ago.