Fiat May Take Up to 35% Equity Stake in Chrysler, FT Says

[Robeson]

Source: Bloomberg.com

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Fiat SpA has agreed in principle to take up to a 35 percent stake in Chrysler LLC with an option to increase its stake, the Financial Times reported today, citing people familiar with the negotiations.

Fiat would invest in some of Chrysler’s plants to build cars for the Milan, Italy-based automaker and share technology in exchange for the stake. Fiat wouldn’t invest cash in Chrysler, the Financial Times said...

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=afbNDIJC98AY&refer=home

[tridim]

1. I knew Fiat would make a comeback in the states

I just didn't know it would take 25 years.

[JDPriestly]

8. We drove a Fiat back in the 1960s all over Europe.

Flimsiest car we ever had. Worst car we ever had. But my sister-in-law and I could push it without much help. What a strange turn of fate it would be if Fiat, which produced such tiny, cheap cars controlled Chrysler which produced such, well, obese monsters might describe some of them.

[tridim]

9. Fiat is making great cars these days.

I also believe they made some good cars in the 70's. I've owned three of them with no rust at over 100k on the clock.

Give me a new Pininfarina designed Chrysler sport coupe and I'll probably buy it. :)

[alfredo]

10. I owned a 1932 Fiat Balilla. I used to drive it up and down the 8,600ft

mountain. It served me well.


I had a girlfriend over there. I can't remember her name, but she had a Fiat 500 Abarth. (can't help it, I'm a guy) She knew how to drive and was fearless. Her father was a retired F1 driver, so I guess she was taught well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg2XjROMApw




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4wtoDbjX-s&feature=related

[alfredo]

18. Here's my Fiat.

I was facing the Red Sea at Gurgusum beach, it was at least 110 degrees, and my Fiat didn't miss a beat.

[POAS]

2. Ferrari and Chrysler under the same corporate roof---

I guess hell has frozen over!

[flvegan]

4. At one point Chrysler owned Lamborghini.

[Donnachaidh]

3. so then Chrysler doesn't need a bailout, yes?

Yes, I'm being snarky -- but wasn't Chrysler pretty much dead in the water *before* there was any talk about bailouts? I remember reading that they couldn't GIVE their stock away.

Now all of a sudden there is interest from foreign carmakers? I wonder how much the potential of government bailout funds went into this discussion?

If we're going to bailout US carmakers we'd better be damned sure that the funds stay in the US, and not wind up in the bank accounts of *sudden* investors.

[Kittycat]

5. THe interest is in their plants.

Now Fiat will be building here. I wonder if there will be a Union impact due to this?

[Romulox]

14. Tell it to CITIBANK, Ms. "Fiscal watchdog".

:eyes:

[AndyTiedye]

6. Fix It Again Tony

[Alcibiades]

7. You must be a pretty bad carmaker

to be acquired by FIAT!

Our family owned one just like the one below, which we bought new, except it was an '82 and it was avocado.

[madrchsod]

11. oh no ..not fiat!

somehow some way they will fuck up the jeep brand...better buy a jeep now!

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. Fiat is a perfectly good car company

This "Fix it Again Tony" shit borders on, well, you know.

FIAT is no worse than Ford or GM, in any case.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

13. People, c'mooon... millions of people in Italy and around the world drive Fiat

all the time. Fiat makes cars that are certainly smaller, but also more fuel efficient. Perhaps, this is good for Chrysler. I'm tired of the "fix it again tony" meme out there. (1) I'm Italian and I've been around Fiats for half my life and (2) it's simply not true that they are unreliable, any more so than for any other popular brand.

[dipsydoodle]

15. It's now a done deal

13:33 GMT, Tuesday, 20 January

Fiat and Chrysler create alliance

Italian carmaker Fiat and US giant Chrysler have agreed to create a global strategic alliance, the companies said in a statement.

Under the terms of the deal, Fiat will get a 35% stake in Chrysler. In return, the US firm will get access to Fiat's fuel-efficient vehicle technologies.

It is hoped the agreement will lead to "substantial" savings for Chrysler.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7839542.stm

[Romulox]

16. LOL. Thanks for the cash, suckers! :) nt

[hughee99]

17. Hey, Hey we're Adobe, the little car that's made out of clay. n/t