Fiat and Chrysler Brands Are in Trouble

Oh, the irony! Fiat and Chrysler are both in big trouble, and with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne on his way out, there are rumors he’s setting up one or both brands to fold. A new report from Bloomberg goes into all this in great detail, and it’s interesting to read.

Basically, Jeep is going to continue to expand. Chrysler, which technically only has two vehicles, could be at risk of going extinct. That’s not a surprise. Why FCA hasn’t tried to launch an SUV under the brand lately is a mystery.

The Bloomberg report also talks about Alfa Romeo and Maserati potentially being combined in a single division. That follows rumors they could be spun off in the near future. Meanwhile, Fiat might leave the U.S. and most other markets. That’s a shame, but the brand has struggled, thanks in no small part to reliability issues. Also, Americans and Canadians like big trucks and SUVs.

Jeep and Ram are the big cash cows for FCA. Both are looking to expand even more and push into additional markets around the globe.

Marchionne is a weird guy. He’s begged people to not buy the Fiat 500e, openly courted other automakers for mergers in the most awkward of ways, and has bragged about how hot the Italian secretaries are. He could also be remembered for giving Chrysler and Fiat death sentences.