Fiat to Start Making Maserati SUV Bodies Next Year

CEO Sergio Marchionne confirms that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will begin making bodies for its Maserati Levante SUV at its Mirafiori plant in Italy next year.

The vehicle initially was expected to go on sale this year. Maserati said two years ago it aimed to sell at least 20,000 Levantes annually in a bid to hike the brand's combined sales to 50,000 units in 2015.

The SUV will share its chassis with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUVs, both of which were developed when Daimler AG owned Chrysler.

Marchionne also tells reporters the company could put its Maserati Alfieri concept into production in as little as 24 months if it decides to move forward with the project.

Fiat unveiled the Alfieri coupe, which would use an existing platform and powertrain, at the Geneva show on Tuesday.