Madza "isn't interested in producing in Italy". From the Paris auto show, the CEO of Fiat Sergio Marchionne disappoints the hopes of thousands of workers at risk or already on layoffs. To remedy the problem of production overcapacity in Italy, the manager in recent months had advanced the hypothesis of granting some factories to foreign producers. After the alliance signed by Lingotto with Mazda, rumors had spread about a possible interest of the Japanese house in Pomigliano D'Arco. Union sources had revealed that in the summer some engineers from the Japanese company had visited the Sicilian plant.
"Zero, I have not received any offers", Marchionne cuts short today, but then specifies: "I have not given up, I will continue to look for a partner as long as I'm in Fiat".
As for the black crisis in the sector, the CEO clarifies that Fiat intends to manage it "without aid or funds either at the Italian or at the European level“. Words that sound like an indirect response to the declarations of the CEO of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn: “We shouldn't even discuss asking Brussels for money to close factories – said the number one of the first European automotive group -. There has already been government support to keep factories open. I don't understand how aid can be asked to cut jobs".
“There is a problem in Europe that needs to be managed – Marchionne argues -. You may have different opinions on how to handle it.” The Italian-Canadian manager then reiterates that "we must not delude ourselves that making the investments will solve the problem“. Indeed, in this way only Fiat would be "damaged": "We asked for patience and suitable times for investment. This is our role and we don't delegate it to anyone”.
Returning to Italy, Marchionne clarifies that “the withdrawal of Fabbrica Italia has nothing to do with Fiom“, and that the plan “was structurally dead a year ago”, when Lingotto issued a press release at the request of Consob. Since then “we never talked about it again”. In any case, in last Saturday's meeting with the Government, Fiat "confirmed its commitment to Italy".
This certainly does not mean reducing the focus on merger with Chrysler – which "is to be completed" - also because without the support of the American company, the CEO underlines again, we would have "suffered the pains of hell in Europe".
