Click above for a high-res gallery of Fiat's Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
As the dollar weakens, European manufacturers continue to scramble for manufacturing opportunities offshore to salvage profits. Fiat is the latest to jump into the fray. Company sources are saying the Italian automaker is currently considering Mexico as a production site -- with their eyes on an existing plant that could be tooled up for 150,000 cars a year. With their Alfa Romeo brand launching in the United States next year, and Fiat sales up significantly in South America, a plant in centrally-located Mexico could easily supply demand for both markets. If approved, the Mexican plant would start building Alfa Romeos and Fiats in 2011.
[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kotse @ May 13th 2008 3:53PM
Magifico! Fiat, why not bring over the Mi To for starters...
John @ May 13th 2008 3:59PM
It is not Fiat's Alfa Romeo 8C! It is an Alfa Romeo. Would you say Ford's Volvo XC70 or GM's Chevrolet Corvette?
Sanders @ May 13th 2008 5:05PM
Yes. Same company.
Mr. Blake @ May 13th 2008 6:46PM
Does Alfa Romeo belong to Fiat? Yes.
hydrogenvodka @ May 14th 2008 3:42AM
yEP, as all those companies build products of different brands in the same plant, as it is smart. So if Alfa comes, after all, it will be under FIAT, always.
In a similarway, though, Renault-Nissan build their Clio-Platina (clio with a trunk) in México, so you can say either of them has the plant in there. Maybe more of Nissan...
Syslik @ May 13th 2008 4:00PM
Good idea. then maybe Fiat won't be losing so much money becaseu of cheaper costs of production. And it would also be nice if the could make this alfa for sale in America. that would be absolutely marvelous
Travis Ayres @ May 13th 2008 4:06PM
Then we could have the double benefit of not only FIAT quality, but made in Mexico quality!
Fix it again...Jose.
Rick @ May 13th 2008 4:10PM
Typical response of some moron living in the 1970's.
Ian B. @ May 13th 2008 4:13PM
Hhmmm. Travis, must be American. The rest of the world does not hold your view of FIAT. They just started selling 500's here. Incredibly well made car.
2004m3driver @ May 13th 2008 4:21PM
At least Jose will fix it cheaper.
Flea @ May 13th 2008 4:26PM
Fiat's reliability on many models is already better than VW's, but I don't see anyone going "Fix it again, Helmut" on posts about VW...
Seriously, get out of 20th century stereotypes :P
Oscar @ May 13th 2008 4:37PM
Imbecile...
Shiftright @ May 13th 2008 5:20PM
Seriously, that stereotype is decades old. Get with the program. Fiat has been making well built and reliable cars for quite a while, and in fact have always done so, except for a rep tarnihsing low period of 10-15 years in the 70's and 80's
eddy @ May 13th 2008 5:44PM
Na. the time when FIAT built unreliable low quality cars is a little bit longer. They had the lowest reliability ratings in the 70s, the 80s and the 90s. The first really reliable new Fiats are the new Punto, Grande Punto and the Panda. That cars were very good at hard reliability tests (from various european car magazines). The 500 will have similar test values, because it is based upon the Panda.
Jorge @ May 13th 2008 6:20PM
Whatever... american cars are made under american specifications in Mexico, but if you prefer a japanese car made in american soil supervised by japanese engineers, do the math.
Berto @ May 13th 2008 6:59PM
Dumb Ass.
Brad2CV @ May 13th 2008 4:34PM
My VW Golf was assembled in Mexico and it's been pretty solid for ten long years. Obviously if you combine strict standards and hardworking employees you will be fine.
vince @ May 13th 2008 4:46PM
I don't know if I would buy an Alfa Romeo made in Mexico. When you're buying a luxury car, you're paying a premium for something made in the US or Europe. I don't know if I would buy from a car company that charges high prices while exploiting cheap labor in Mexico.
Shiftright @ May 13th 2008 5:30PM
I can't wait to be able to buy a new US spec Alfa, but there's just something wrong about it being built in Mexico, no offense to Mexico or its citizen workers. It's just that Alfa, like Ferrari, embodies so much the essence of Italy, that it being made anywhere but, dilutes the principle of the brand. Can you imagine a Ferrari being built anywhere but Italy? Ultimately, if they are well built and we can get them here at a competitive price I probably won't care after I get behind the wheel.
Sanders @ May 13th 2008 5:05PM
i'll never ever be able to afford that Alfa. That thing is beautiful. But on the other hand, if Fiat decides to start selling the Abarth 500 in the US, I'll step up, but only if they make it a giant killer like the original Abarths.