untitled design (1)

Learn Italian online

Fiat, the Soon to Be US Brand?

Italian auto-maker Fiat is once again hinting that it is considering abandoning Italy for the USA, where the company already controls Chrysler.

Ironically, the de-Italianisation of Fiat may help keep Fiat’s Italian operations going – if Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne so wishes.

The USA’s more friendly investment climate may mean income from Fiat USA can be used to keep Fiat Italy running. Will this happen, or will Fiat decide to re-locate its Italian operations to more business friendly nations in Europe? That remains to be seen. Fiat could, of course, decide to dump Europe in favor of Africa. Marchionne will be aware of Africa’s proximity to Europe, and the fact that African nations are not tangled in reams of European red tape.

think in italian logo dark bg 1

Stop reading, start speaking

Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.

If Fiat does dump Italy, and Italy is doing nothing to keep the car maker here, the consequences for Italy’s economy could be disastrous. Fiat employs around 60,000 people in Italy, or did so in 2011. Aside from those directly in Fiat’s employ, there are all the Italy based suppliers who also employ many, many Italians. A move to the USA, coupled with relocation to Africa, maybe, would cost Italy dearly.

So will Fiat leave Italy? Well, unless the political situation improves vastly, and this is highly improbable in the opinion of this Italy watcher, then Fiat’s relocation is not so much a case of “if” and much more a case of “when”.

Italy has been aware of Fiat’s moving thoughts for quite a while, though it has not bothered listening to them. Silly Italy.

Most Popular

Italy’s Delta Force

Although not directly comparable to the legendary American special forces unit of the same name, Italy’s delta force

Mosquitoes, Spray and Toothpaste

I pity Italians who are struggling to learn English, I really do. Unfortunately, Italian discovered English quite a long time ago and the language is now littered with words which look, on first sight, English. But when English speakers hear these borrowed words, they might not always recognise them.

Berlusconi Saves Italy a Fortune

As many will know, the word ‘stable’ was not often used to describe Italy’s chaotic political system. However, the emergence of what is to all intents and purposes a two party system stands to save Italy a fortune.

Categories

Related Posts

Heading in a better direction?

Desperate Italy Gets Wise

Beset with eternally bickering politicians or legally entangled Berlusconi, Italy’s president Napolitano has opted for a kind of odd plan B – 10 wise men

Italy’s Pesky Economy Ministers

Step back in time: Silvio Berlusconi announces, repeatedly, to the nation, “We’re going to cut taxes”. Berlusconi’s economy minister Tremonti, “Hang on a moment, Silvio.