Chrysler now has a partnership with China-based automaker Chery to rebadge a small car for the South American market, a partnership with Volkswagen to build VW-badged minivans, and a brand new deal with Nissan in which it will supply the Japanese automaker a full-size truck in exchange for a new small car. Rumor has it that the Cerberus-owned automaker isn't done shaking hands quite yet. The latest partnership may involve Italian automaker Fiat, as reported by the German newspaper Handelsblatt. According to the paper, the deal with Fiat would involve freeing up some of Chrysler's production capacity in the U.S. for Fiat to build Alfa Romeos here. We're not sure what Chrysler would get out of the deal besides money, but Fiat would accomplish a step that makes reintroducing Alfa Romeo cars in the U.S. that much easier. Chrysler-built Alfa Romeos, though? We've seen Chrysler-built Maseratis in the past (Maserati TC ring a bell?), which didn't work out too well. Hopefully this time, things will be different.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gino @ Apr 16th 2008 11:36AM
If Chrysler builds ALFAs, my intent to buy has just non-intented.
Brent @ Apr 16th 2008 11:42AM
I think money is exactly what Chrysler wants in return.
sam @ Apr 16th 2008 11:49AM
Good news for Alfa fans. Chrysler will do a MUCH better job of screwing them together than Alfa itself has ever done.
lunartic @ Apr 16th 2008 11:56AM
Uh, does this mean there will be SRT versions of Alfa Romeos? Maybe a hatchback SRT4? That would be very interesting.............
Adam @ Apr 16th 2008 12:02PM
Good idea. I think it's probably about using excess capacity and employing their union employees per the contract more than just cash per se.
Borat @ Apr 16th 2008 12:16PM
Of course the Maserati TC didn't work, you could have bought the LeBaron for cheap.
300Kid @ Apr 16th 2008 12:16PM
I don't know if I agree w/the comparison to the (cheesy) Chrysler TC by Maserati. That was mainly just a tarted up regular Lebaron (k car derivative). This sounds more like Alfa/Fiat designed cars being built in America, as opposed to American designed cars gussied up with Italian parts. Besides it's not like Fiat has such a great reliability reputation as it is now.
Makes sense for them to get some more revenue where they can, let's just hope they're smart with what they do with it (put it into product R&D).
nardi @ Apr 16th 2008 12:29PM
I love the way that people in the US who havnt seen or driven a new Alfa since 1993 when they stopped importing them know sooooo much about them.
Alfa Charger @ Apr 16th 2008 12:30PM
ARDONA part two!!!!
ken_aisin @ Apr 16th 2008 12:34PM
We're talking about two companies that make very unreliable vehicles.
douglasfir72 @ Apr 16th 2008 12:53PM
I still scratch my head when I hear reliability issues with Chrysler products. I have owned two Dodge Neons (1998 & 2005, and both manual shift) and have not had any issues with either. I would probably still have the 98 had I not been cut off and pushed underneath an SUV which made art out of the front end. It was retired(totaled) with 110K miles. My Dad ran a Dodge Ram (1995) truck for over 12 years and that included pulling a boat from time to time. And other than the flaking crappy paint job it was still a good running truck. I think he had 140+K on it. So granted these aren't super high millage #'s I still think hitting 100k without issue is still respectable.
BTW yes I accept the neon for what it is small, cheap plasticy and underpowered. I still like it.
Rick @ Apr 16th 2008 2:53PM
Yeah, and that's why Fiat 500 and Grande Punte sales are skyrocketing in Europe. That 'reliability' cliche is an American one, not an international one.
lunartic @ Apr 16th 2008 12:34PM
nardi, by reading European car magazines every month it becomes apparent Alfa quality is still lagging behind the best in class.
LDMAN @ Apr 16th 2008 12:39PM
True but that is because they were made in a factory in Southern Italy that Fiat wanted to close down (they now built Lancia instead).
Onur @ Apr 17th 2008 4:04AM
Pomigliano plant located very close to Napoli is still running and producing most of the Alfas - Alfa GT, 159, 147. (Alfa Mito is going to be an exception) and it has no Lancia production. For the time being Lancias are being built in Imarese and Cassino plants.
Rocketboy @ Apr 16th 2008 1:54PM
I'm confused. Is this good news or bad?
Ian T. @ Apr 16th 2008 2:54PM
Chrysler build Aflas? That's like having a no-name manufacturer build diamond-studded Cartier watches.
Disgruntled Goat @ Apr 16th 2008 3:06PM
Heh, you're comparing an Alfa to a Cartier watch? You guys kill me. A more apt analogy might be to compare it to Levi Straus making Jordache designer jeans.
Joe @ Apr 16th 2008 3:42PM
Chrysler can't build a good car, never mind a great car like the ALFA. If you remember FIATs way back when they were imported into the USA, "Fix it again Tony" was what we called them. Worlds two must unreliable car companies coming together. WOW, good luck
Rick @ Apr 16th 2008 4:16PM
I also remember American cars from the same time period that were grossly unreliable, horribly engineered and rusted just as bad. Can you say xenophobia...