Fiat will invest 20 billion euros in Italy
It is time for calm in Italy. The automaker Fiat has confirmed that Saturday's willingness to invest 20 billion euros into the country, the government said in a statement following a meeting between the president and managing director of Fiat, John Elkann and Sergio Marchionne , and Silvio Berlusconi.
Fiat has "confirmed the government's intention to pursue development objectives of the group, which forecast an increase of production in this country of 650,000 to 1.4 million cars a year, a goal supported by an investment of about $ 20 billion euros, "the statement said.The government was ready for its part, to help Fiat to develop in "the best conditions for competitiveness."
The meeting, also attended the Italian ministers of Economy and Industry, and officials of the Piedmont where the headquarters of the manufacturer, was intended to calm the anxiety provoked by the statements of the Sergio Marchionne about a possible tie-Chrysler Fiat. "Fiat and Chrysler? In the next two or three years we can see a single entity. It could be based here in the U.S., "he had launched in last weekend during a visit to San Francisco.
Headquarters, the debate could resurface in 2014
Fiat now owns 25% stake in Chrysler and the two partners hope to produce 6 million vehicles in 2014, against less than 4 million now installment payday loans.The possibility of a merger had already been considered. But the evocation of a head office based in the United States has created a chill in Italy, forcing the CEO of the manufacturer to return immediately to his remarks. By phone, he assured the Minister Maurizio Sacconi of Labor that no transfer of headquarters was expected "either today or tomorrow." He reiterated that the hypotheses only referred to "possible future scenarios."
To dispel any misunderstanding, the Fiat management has, however, of clarifying strategies with government and local authorities on Saturday. "All the controversies are now closed," then found Paolo Romani, the Minister of Industry. "Fiat is a big multinational that grows in the world but still with a heart of Italy." The mayor of Turin Sergio Chiamparino, was more cautious.He said Fiat had confirmed its "Italian character" but "in a changing dynamic that requires daily work to ensure that this does not change." In fact, as the president of the province of Turin, Antonio Saitta, the conditions that the city remains the headquarters of the group "will be discussed in 2014."
(With AFP)
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