Published

Fiat Expects Global Sales to Drop 6% in 2013

Fiat SpA predicts its worldwide sales will shrink to 1.7 million vehicles next year from 1.8 million units in 2012 because of continuing weakness in the European car market, Automotive News reports.
#economics

Share

Fiat SpA predicts its worldwide sales will shrink to 1.7 million vehicles next year from 1.8 million units in 2012 because of continuing weakness in the European car market, Automotive News reports.

Fiat-Chrysler Chairman Sergio Marchionne tells the newspaper he expects Chrysler Group global volume to climb 8% to 2.6 million vehicles in compared with an estimated 2.4 million units this year.

Chrysler sales growth will be constrained by capacity because it is operating at an average of 107% of its straight-time capacity, according to Marchionne.

As a result, Marchionne says Fiat will build its upcoming Maserati SUV at its underutilized plant in Mirafiori, Italy, instead of at Chrysler's Jeep factory in Detroit as he previously implied. The switch will allow Chrysler to increase the facility's output of the Jeep Wagoneer large SUV due early next year.

Marchionne also discloses that the company is close to a decision about whether to produce the Chrysler 100 compact hatchback for the U.S. He confirms that Fiat would market a Lancia version, the Delta, in Europe, if the program is approved.

RELATED CONTENT

  • On Lincoln-Shinola, Euro EV Sales, Engineered Carbon, and more

    On a Lincoln-Shinola concept, Euro EV sales, engineered carbon for fuel cells, a thermal sensor for ADAS, battery analytics, and measuring vehicle performance in use with big data

  • China and U.S. OEMs

    When Ford announced its 3rd quarter earning on October 24, the official announcement said, in part, “Company revenue was up 3 percent year over year, with net income and company adjusted EBIT both down year over year, primarily driven by continued challenges in China.” The previous day, perhaps as a preemptive move to answer the question “If things are going poorly in China, what are you doing about it?, Ford announced that it was establishing Ford China as a stand-alone business unit.

  • On Urban Transport, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Lamborghini and more

    Why electric pods may be the future of urban transport, the amazing Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Lamborghini is a green pioneer, LMC on capacity utilization, an aluminum study gives the nod to. . .aluminum, and why McLaren is working with TUMI.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions