Fiat-based Chrysler products to arrive in the U.S. in 18 months
By Andrew C., 26 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
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In as little as a year and a half, Fiat-based Chrysler product could hit the US market, said the outgoing vice-chair and president of Chrysler Tom W. LaSorda. They have been working hard in the area of homologations and emissions and 18 months is realistic. This was confirmed by LaSorda last Thursday at the public announcement of the Chrysler-Fiat alliance. The statement of LaSorda was brought about by industry commentators saying that it will take about three years for any Fiat-based Chrysler products to get to the US markets. For LaSorda, three years is fundamentally wrong. He claims they can do it quicker than that. Although the alliance between Fiat and Chrysler will provide the latter with a wider portfolio of products on the one hand, on the other hand, however, there will be an expected culling of products as well.
There will be an elimination process of some models and of redundant products as the alliance will result in the uniting of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep under one dealership. But as to which of the models will be axed, the company did not say. Likewise, there are also no confirmations about which Fiat vehicles will be coming stateside or in which plant they will be manufactured. Part of the deal that the alliance brought about is the agreement with the United Auto Workers is Fiat's commitment to build a new diminutive in one of the facilities of Chrysler in the US.
In relation to the Fiat 500, there is a significant possibility that it will be manufactures in the North American Free Trade Agreement, which includes the US, Canada and Mexico. They would not say, however where exactly the Fiat 500 of any other Fiat products will be manufactured in North America. This is just the beginning, but with the newly forged partnership, Fiat is looking forward on the great possibilities that this has brought to them and they are planning to reintroduce some of their famous brands like the Alfa Romeo and the Cinquecento (500) to North America.
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