" Ferrari American? Never said. It would be inconceivable to make Ferrari out of Maranello. We are exaggerating to describe the events of the coming months”. With these words the CEO of Fiat Chrysler, Sergio Marchionne, replied to the controversial statement made in recent days by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the number one of the Cavallino who today officially said goodbye to the company after 23 years.
“We hope to complete the merger process between Fiat and Chrysler on 13 October – continued Marchionne -, which will create a company incorporated under Dutch law listed in America and Italy. A large part of our business is in America and this will have an important impact on Ferrari, which will have access to the US market. But it won't be American."
On the other hand, Marchionne also specified that there are no plans to create any luxury pole resulting from the merger between Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo: "There is not the slightest intention of integrating Ferrari into Fiat Chrysler so as not to make it pollute in a mass market automotive system”. The hypothesis had once again circulated on the market – pushing up the Fiat share – after the farewell of Montezemolo and his replacement with Marchionne himself.
The nature of Marchionne's commitment to Ferrari has been at the center of many uncertainties in the last few hours: permanent or interim role? “My tenure at Ferrari is long-term – replied the new President -. These are not things to joke about. There is all the commitment of the Fiat group towards the Maranello company. And, after Montezemolo's resignation, I'll stay at Ferrari as long as necessary".
Finally, the CEO denied the possibility of producing a Ferrari-branded SUV.
