Fiat and Chrysler Announce Potential Deal Amidst Industry Turmoil

As the world watches the inauguration of Barack Obama, Fiat and Chrysler announced a historic deal that could give the Italian automaker a 35% stake in the ailing Detroit auto maker. This move comes at a critical time, with Chrysler's co-president Tom LaSorda and Fiat's CEO Sergio Marchionne, a Canadian-educated executive, at the forefront of the recovery efforts. The deal would put two Canadians at the helm of Chrysler's revival, with LaSorda poised to play a key role despite Bob Nardelli's current leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Fiat's CEO Sergio Marchionne, a Canadian-educated executive, will be instrumental in Chrysler's recovery efforts.
• Tom LaSorda, Chrysler's co-president, is poised to play a key role in the company's revival, despite Bob Nardelli's current leadership.
• The deal would give Fiat a 35% stake in Chrysler, with the Italian automaker's strength in small and fuel-efficient passenger cars complementing Chrysler's focus on larger vehicles.
• Chrysler's current deal with Nissan to build large pickup trucks is likely to be put on hold, as rebadged Fiats are expected to hit Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep showrooms soon after a deal is confirmed.
• The Detroit Three have declined to participate in the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, with organizers considering canceling the event entirely due to industry pressure.
• Honda had the highest predicted resale value among mainstream vehicles in Canada, while Infiniti took the top spot for luxury brands in the first Canada-specific awards.

Statistics:

• 35%: Fiat's potential stake in Chrysler.
• 6: The number of large auto conglomerates Marchionne expects to survive within five years.
• 3 years: The period after which Automotive Lease Guide predicts resale values for various vehicles.
• 2009: Toyota's Scion Fuse concept will launch in Canada this year, marking the brand's introduction to the market.
• 2010: The year when Toyota will launch Scion in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
• 5 years: The time frame in which Marchionne expects only six large auto conglomerates to survive.

Sources:

• "Detroit Three decline Tokyo show" by Autoweek
• "Honda, Infiniti score resale value awards" by Automotive Lease Guide
• "Fiat seeks Chrysler deal" by Globe and Mail.