Alfa Romeo to sell cars again in the US in 2012
“As far as Alfa is concerned, everything is possible. The brand is extremely sporty and connected to Ferrari since the early days of motorsports. There are many possibilities."
01/19/11 Carmaker Fiat SpA intends to extend a new labor deal, backed last week by workers at its Mirafiori, Turin plant, to other Italian plants, its chief executive said on Tuesday in a newspaper.
Sergio Marchionne told Italian daily la Repubblica that the labor deals form the backbone of Fiat's investments in Italy, where the company is planning to spend 20 billion euros ($27 billion) on its factories and produce new models.
"There is no alternative (to extending the deal to other plants). We can't live in two worlds. I hope that, as the (new) agreements are put to the test, the workers won't want to live in the past," he said in the newspaper.
On Saturday, Fiat won narrow backing from its workers for a labor contract that limits strikes and absenteeism in exchange for investment in Italy. Its Pomigliano plant backed a similar deal in 2010.
Marchionne reiterated that Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand was not for sale nor was the recently spun-off Fiat Industrial SpA heavy machinery and truck arm.
"The pipeline is emptying in the second half of 2011, and we see… the full Lancia range arriving, redone with the Americans," he said referring to Fiat's Chrysler affiliate in the United States.
"And thanks to Chrysler, Alfa will arrive in America with a 2,000 dealer network and will make a splash," he said.
[Editor's Note: Given recent talks, might Alfa Romeo then be the brand Fiat might race in IndyCar starting in 2013 and beyond?]