FCA Certain It Will Survive Industry Turmoil

CEO Mike Manley declares himself “100% sure” that Fiat Chrysler Automobile NV’s “house of brands” will carry the carmaker through all the technological disruptions facing the auto industry.

Manley tells Bloomberg News that FCA’s iconic brands, such as Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Maserati give the company a competitive edge over mass-volume manufacturers. He also says the carmaker’s venerable Fiat brand has shown it can survive, thanks to the success in Europe of such models as the 500 minicar.

Manley’s view coincides with that of his predecessor, the late Sergio Marchionne, who died in July at age 66.

Marchionne predicted that the global auto industry would split into two groups: premium brands that retain their appeal and mass-marketers of more generic people-mover vehicles that face disruption by car-share and car-hailing services.