2014 really couldn't have started better for Fiat. Sergio Marchionne has won the battle that crowns all his America bet, on which the salvation and future of Fiat depends. In the last few hours, the CEO of Fiat has reached a historic agreement with Veba for the purchase of the last share of Chrysler (41,4%) which was not yet in the hands of the Lingotto.
Fiat will pay 3,65 billion dollars, of which 1,75 billion in cash, to thus acquire the stake in Veba and reach 100 percent of Chrysler which becomes totally Fiat.
The next step involves the Chrysler-Fiat merger and the listing of the automotive giant on Wall Street.
The complete conquest of the Detroit house crowns the American strategy of Sergio Marchionne who absurdly many have always seen in Italy as smoke and mirrors and who instead in the USA and in the world is considered a winning manager with great foresight. Thanks to the American success, Fiat secures itself and secures the Italian factories which have always remained open even in the moments of greatest difficulty, unlike what many European car manufacturers have done which have cut many jobs without too much delay.
It must be said that both the Monti government and the Letta government and also the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano have always encouraged Marchionne and Fiat despite the disagreements of many political and trade union forces and the narrow-mindedness of Confindustria (first of Marcegaglia and Squinzi then) from which Fiat exited two years ago.
