Fiat Pledges to Keep Italian Plants, Shift Focus to Foreign Markets by Building Chrysler Models

As expected after last week’s announcement, on Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti met with Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and the company's Chairman and heir to the Agnelli family empire, John Elkann, to discuss the automaker’s future in the country.

The meeting was arranged after rumors surfaced that Fiat, which is expected to lose around €700 million (US$904.5 million) this year due to a sales slump in the European market, is considering closing some of its plants and moving production out of Italy.

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Chrysler , Fiat , Reports

Fiat 500 Bellavista Design Concepts for Stylish Speedster and Roadster Variants

The Fiat 500 is beloved subject for many professional and amateur designers to express their creativity and skills. The 500 concept studies bundled under the Bellavista moniker that you see pictured here are the work of the students from the Polytechnic of Milan and Madeindreams.

The students developed two similar prototypes based on the Abarth 500. The first is a two-seater roadster model with a regular windshield, beefed up wheel arches, a double canopy behind the headrests and re-styled front and rear bumpers.

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Concepts , Fiat , Fiat 500 , Fiat Concepts

Fiat-Chrysler CEO to Meet with Italian PM Amid Fears About Automaker's Future in the Country

On Tuesday, two days after two government ministers asked Fiat to clarify its plans, the Italian government announced Prime Minister Mario Monti would meet with Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on Saturday, September 22, to talk about the company’s “strategic prospects”.

Given that the Fiat Group is the country’s biggest company, the rumors about shutting down some of its Italian plants have caused a lot of concern.

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Chrysler , Fiat , Reports

Abarth Announces New "Fuori Serie" Customization Programme, Presents 131 Mirafirori Livery for 500

The Fiat Group is once again upping the customization game for its Abarth brand with the launch of the new "Fuori Serie" programme at the Paris Motor Show later this month.

"With the 'Fuori Serie' programme, customers will have the chance to talk personally with the manufacturer to have their Abarths customized down to the smallest detail by a team of specialized Abarth designers, engineers and mechanics," Fiat said in a statement.

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Abarth , Fiat , Fiat 500 , New Cars , Paris Auto Show

CAW Makes Some Concessions Over New Contract with Detroit 3, Carmakers Still Undecided

Three days before the expiration of the ultimatum that the Canadian Auto workers’ union (CAW) has issued to GM, Ford and Chrysler, the union has made some concessions over the new contract in order to avert a simultaneous strike at all three carmakers' Canadian plants as it has threatened.

The CAW is proposing a lower starting wage for newly hired workers and a longer time for them to reach the top of the pay scale. Moreover, unlike current workers, new employees will contribute to their pensions but will still be entitled to a defined-benefit, not a defined-contribution pension.

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Canada , Chrysler , Fiat , Ford , GM , Reports

Sneak Preview of Fiat's Lighthearted Commercial for the New 500L Minivan

The Fiat 500 range may be growing up in size and maturing in character with the new 500L minivan, but the Italian company has given the first commercial for the small MPV a very youthful feel.

Set to air in Europe on September 16, the TV spot reveals the five-door 500L through the eyes of a child and with the help of picturesque special effects.

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commercials , Fiat , Fiat 500L , Fiat Videos , Video

Fiat Expands Doblo Cargo Van Range with New XL Version in the UK

Fiat's boxy Doblo Cargo van is welcoming a new addition to its range in Britain in the form of the XL model, which follows the Doblo Work Up launched last year.

The new Doblo XL is based on the long wheelbase version adding a higher roof to the mix for a total load volume of 5.0 m³ and a payload of 1,000kg or 2,205 lbs.

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Diesel , Fiat , Fiat Doblo , New Cars , UK

Alfa Romeo’s Return to the U.S. Postponed Again as Marrchione Changes Original Schedule

For the umpteenth time, Alfa Romeo’s planned reentry in the US market has been put on the table. In October, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne will reveal a new schedule for Alfa’s upcoming models and the brands overseas expansion, which means yet another delay.

Last year, Marchionne revealed the company's new business plan and said that Alfa would return to the States in late 2012 with a small number of its 4C mid-engined coupe. The full-on assault in the US market would begin in mid-2013 with the launch of a compact crossover and at the end of the year, the new Giulia executive saloon.

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Alfa Giulietta , Alfa Romeo , Alfa Spider , Chrysler , Fiat , Reports