Fiat CEO Confirms 1st Half Earnings Targets,Still Interested In Opel
26 Junho 2009 - 1:00PM
Dow Jones News
Fiat SpA (F.MI) Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said that
first-half and full-year results are in line with already announced
targets and confirmed the company's interest in General Motors
Corp.'s (GM) unit Adam Opel Gmbh.
Fiat is scheduled to report first half results July 22.
Asked if Fiat was still interested in acquiring Opel, he said
the Magna International Inc. (MG.A.T)-Opel deal "isn't going well,"
adding that Fiat has confirmed its interest in Opel.
Marchionne, who is also CEO of Chrysler, said that the U.S.
company is going to call a board meeting by the end of July.
Asked if Fiat plans to merge tractor unit CNH (CNH) with
Chrysler, Marchionne said: "No, there is no reason to do so. I
don't see what a tractor has to do with a Viper," referring to a
Chrysler model.
Marchionne also confirmed rumors that Chrysler plans to continue
to sell the PT Cruiser. That model had been slated to be
discontinued.
Marchionne said he was "very, very pleased" with the progress he
was making at Chrysler. A group of Chrysler executives are touring
Fiat's plants and offices to get acquainted with Fiat's
products.
Marchionne said Chrysler aims to be competitive in the
C-segment. "We can compete with Toyota and Honda," he said.
Marchionne was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the
Council For The United States and Italy.
-By Jennifer Clark, Dow Jones Newswires, +39 335 8335761;
sabrina.cohen@dowjones.com