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Chrysler is in advanced discussions with Fiat over plans to use the American company’s factories to build US-market Alfa Romeos, according to reports in the German press.
The news comes just a day after Chrysler announced a similar co-operation with Nissan over the production of new models, including building a US-market pick-up truck for the Japanese manufacturer.
Fiat has been looking for a partner to help with the return of Alfa Romeo models to the US market for some time. The Italian company has already indicated that it will initially export cars from Europe to the US, but local production would put it in a far stronger position in the price-conscious American market.
Fiat is already a global expert in localising production for foreign markets, with subsidiary factories in Poland, Argentina and Brazil, and joint ventures with numerous other car makers, from Egypt to Serbia.
And Chrysler certainly has production capacity to spare, with its share of the US market declining dramatically in recent months. Sales in America were down 16 per cent year-on-year in March. Several models, including the Jeep Commander, are believed to be facing the axe.
Alfa Romeo withdrew from the American market in 1995, and has been planning to return for some time. The current plan is for new Alfas will be sold from American Maserati dealerships.
Mike Duff
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