Marchionne to be posthumously inducted into Automotive HOF

Sergio Marchionne

Former Fiat Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne headlines the 2019 class of influential auto industry figures set to be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame during a special ceremony July 18 at the MGM Grand Detroit.

Marchionne, who died in July, will be posthumously inducted along with Indycar driver Janet Guthrie, American Axle Manufacturing co-founder Richard E. Dauch and auto dealership finance and insurance innovator Patrick Ryan.

Hall of Fame board chairman Ramzi Hermiz said each of the inductees are deserving of the honor because of the tremendous contributions they’ve made to the industry.

“This year’s inductees are innovators, entrepreneurs, trail blazers and visionaries of our industry," Hermiz said in a Monday announcement at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Marchionne is recognized for spearheading the dramatic turn around by Fiat and Chrysler following Chrysler’s emergence from bankruptcy in 2009. The two companies eventually merged to form Fiat Chrysler.

“Marchionne is regarded one of the boldest business leaders of his generation thanks to his business acumen as well as his outspoken and often frank approach to dealing with difficult and complicated problems," Hermiz said. Matt Durr/mlive.com