After Months Of Suggesting, FIAT Steps Back From Talk Of Merging With VW

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne said he has "zero interest" in pursuing a merger with Volkswagen AG, despite bringing up the possibility earlier this month.

"I only said that if you were the No. 1 automaker in Europe and somebody combines with another automaker to become the second and gets very close to your position, your very first reaction is to distance the second again," Marchionne told reporters Wednesday following remarks by President Donald Trump. "We are the only natural combination partner for somebody who wants to do that. If you were playing a chess board game, that's what you would do."

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PUGPROUD - 3/16/2017 9:30:43 AM

+1 Boost

Be careful what you wish for! Openly trolling for months to sell yourself to any and all potential suitors never brings the best price and terms. Sounds like Sergio came face to face with his fate and blinked.

Agent009 - 3/16/2017 9:50:34 AM

+1 Boost

EXACTLY!!!

nguyenvuminh - 3/16/2017 1:16:26 PM

+1 Boost

I heard from an auto industry whiz that Hyundai/Kia would be the perfect buyer for FCA, GM, PSA and VW.

MDarringer - 3/16/2017 8:05:23 PM

+1 Boost

VWAG probably wanted Ferrari thrown in.

The ONLY part of FCA worth anything is Jeep/Ram and that would be useful to a number of companies not active in those two segments. The rest of FCA is 100% trash.

malba2367 - 3/17/2017 6:39:43 PM

+2 Boost

Alfa/Maserati are not trash either. Both have incredible brand names and the new Alfa platform is a good starting point for a company that is willing to invest significant money in building a world class sport/luxury brand.

MDarringer - 3/17/2017 9:10:33 PM

0 Boost

Apparently you have not seen that Consumer Reports has a Giulia that has been in the shop so often that they cannot conduct their customary testing.

They have found assembly glitches and have had considerable reliability issues. The Giulia is a hastily cobbled together turd. The Stelvio will be likewise.

The gestation of the Giorgio platform is at best incestuous.

Local Giulias-all five of them--have been frequent fliers to the dealer for similar issues as Consumer Reports is experiencing.

The Ghibli is reliable-ish as is the Qporte, but neither is Lexus-like.

As for brand esteem, Alfa-Romeo is best remembered as a rust pile that seldom if ever runs.

Maserati's brand status is perhaps better.

Both brands need two decades and billions of dollars in investment for an outside chance of being taken seriously.

mini22 - 3/17/2017 6:54:20 PM

+2 Boost

VW would have to be dreaming if they actually thought the Agnellie's would sell Ferrari. Never going to happen. So it is Jeep, Ram and maybe Alfa/Maserati. It's all about whether their SUV's will actually sell in enough volume. Still a question mark.

MrEE - 3/18/2017 9:21:32 AM

+2 Boost

VW dieselgate liability likely too big.

MDarringer - 3/18/2017 10:50:07 AM

0 Boost

You're assuming anyone would merge with FCA. When FCA "merges" it will be taken over and cease to exist.