Fiat chairman: GM's Opel an "ideal" partner

[Bozita]

Source: AP

Fiat chairman: GM's Opel an "ideal" partner
by The Associated Press
Sunday May 03, 2009, 11:40 AM

ROME - The chairman of Fiat SpA, which is in the process of acquiring U.S. automaker Chrysler, confirmed the Italian automaker's interest in General Motors' German unit Opel, calling it an "ideal partner" and a possible takeover by Fiat an "extraordinary opportunity."

It was the first confirmation from Fiat of its interest in Opel.

Corriere della Sera published an interview with Fiat chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo on the eve of a reported meeting in Berlin between Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and the German economy and foreign ministers to discuss an Opel takeover.

GM has been trying to find investors for its noncore and unprofitable assets as part of a restructuring in which it has sought billions of dollars in aid from the U.S. government to avert collapse.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2009/05/fiat_chairman_gms_opel_an_idea.html

[HopeHoops]

1. Opel has never made anything but ugly cars.

I'm talking "shave your dog's ass and teach it to walk backwards" ugly here.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Opel makes extremely average looking cars

more so than any other European manufacturer, I'd say. If you think the average car is incredibly ugly, then you'd be right.

[HopeHoops]

4. Well, now that you mention it...

... the average car IS pretty ugly!

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. The thing is, the ugliest car in the past 20 years or so was made by Fiat

by common consent - the Fiat Multipla:

[HopeHoops]

6. I don't know.

The Honda Element is uglier that THAT!

[Bozita]

7. Looks like the stretch limo version of a golf cart

[hunter]

30. The Pontiac Aztec was a strong contender in the "mutant ugly" catagory:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Aztek

[Old Coot]

9. What about the Opel GT? n/t

[jorgebob28]

10. Opel Omega=Holden Monaro=Vauxhall Monaro=Pontiac GTO

All the same car. Not great looking but fairly competent. I thought Opel was actually profitable. The Opel Calibra from 1989 was pretty slick for its time, too. I got to see its introduction at the Frankfurt Motor Show. I'm waiting for the Manta-fahrer jokes...

As for FIAT, they own Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia, too. Can't wait for Alfa to come back to the USA which is a possibility if FIAT gets involved with an American carmaker.

[flvegan]

23. The 1963 Opel Kadett was far from ugly.

[kwassa]

29. I learned how to drive in the 1965 Opel Kadett

we had great times in that car.

[bunnies]

28. If this is your version of "ugly"...

I'll take your "ugly" rejects any day.

[TexYellowDogDem]

31. Ugly car?

This is a 1973 Opel GT. I owned a GT, my brother owned an Opel 1900 station wagon and my sister owned an Opel Kadette. These were extremely reliable cars and not at all ugly. Opel made the GT from 1968-73. Opel makes some great small diesel sedans that get over 60 mpg. Too bad GM doesn't sell them in this country.

[Xithras]

32. The Saturn Astra is a rebadged Opel.

A bit small for my needs, but I think the Astra is a very good looking car.

[Jack Bone]

3. Fiat just bought the factory where I work....'er...

that I'm temporarily laid off from.

This news kinda has my head spinning a bit.

[madrchsod]

20. the belvedere plant was looking for temp employees

i got a hit on my state employment page that they were looking for temps for a short term employment over the summer. since the two counties three counties around the plant has over 14% unemployment,that includes gm`s janesville plant,i doubt i`d have a chance.

hell if this deal goes through maybe some guys and gals can get some work this summer

[alfredo]

8. Opel Speedster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z9DvoriKAE

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. Which is mostly a Lotus Elise, actually. n/t

[alfredo]

22. the Saturn shows Opel's design team's touch.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

25. It's a Lotus design.

They hooked up with Opel/Vauxhall for marketing/distribution obvious reasons. Either way it's a great little car. I'd love to have one, if I had the money, and if I was still living on the other side of the pond.

[alfredo]

33. So the Saturn design is the slow cousin of the Lotus.

[Bozita]

12. Fiat eyes new company with GM Europe, Chrysler

Source: AP

Fiat eyes new company with GM Europe, Chrysler
by The Associated Press
Sunday May 03, 2009, 2:56 PM

ROME - Fiat Group SpA confirmed Sunday it was in talks to acquire General Motor Corp.' European operations with the aim of possibly creating a new company to also include its newly acquired Chrysler automaker.

Combined, the new automaker would have €80 billion ($105 billion) in annual revenues, Fiat said in a statement.

Fiat said it was evaluating the possible spinoff of its auto business to form the core of the new company. Fiat Group Automobiles includes the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari brands.

The statement was issued on the eve of a meeting in Berlin between Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne and the German economy and foreign ministers to discuss Fiat's offer for GM's German unit, Opel.

GM Europe also includes the British company Vauxhall and Swedish carmaker Saab.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2009/05/fiat_eyes_new_company_with_gm.html

---

Sergio's been really busy today!

[flvegan]

13. They forgot Maserati.

Fiat also owns Maserati.

[tridim]

14. Who gets to say yes or no on this deal?

I like Fiats, but I also don't want Fiat to be the only car company in the world.

[enid602]

15. Fiat

Chrysler would most likely be lost without this deal, and GM´s european Division is its smallest. GM had long ago announced that they were looking for buyers for Saab and Opel.

[Hannah Bell]

17. gm has close to 10% of the european market; it makes 64% of its income overseas.

[jody]

16. Will Chrysler owned by Fiat be treated the same by DUers as were Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, & Toyota?

[madrchsod]

19. fiat/chrysler will be union..

the others are not and probably never will be

[Jack Bone]

27. Nobody went crazy when we were owned by Daimler...

back in the day. Daimler owns Mercedes too.

I think this merger w/ Fiat will be fine, it will be closer to an actual merger than our last one, w/ Daimler, was.

[madrchsod]

18. the fiat chairman has made the company profitable

his ace in the hole is the jeep brand name and the belvedere il assembly plant....the newest auto assembly plant in the usa and the most efficient auto assembly workforce in america.

opel is a decent brand name and car...not everyone can afford a benz or audi in europe

[tabasco]

21. I hope Fiat has a source for fine Corinthian leather!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_leather

[digidigido]

24. Opel's are great

I was in Germany last year and rented one. If they were sold here I might have bought one. I had an Open diesel and it was just a joy to drive

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

26. No they are not.

Opels/Vauxhalls are terrible cars, with several notable exceptions. In fact I'd say that they're some of the worst cars in Europe. In the past ten years car makers like Renault, Citroen, Skoda (now owned by VW) and Fiat have produced cars far superior to the Opel designs, for the same amount of money. Some of the new Opel/Vauxhall designs (like the new Astra and hot hatches) are competitive, but their midsize cars are a disaster area. I can't think of one good reason to buy a Cavalier, or any of its platform-mates. They all handle terribly, the interior build quality is appalling, and there are far more interesting and cost-effective options from other car makers. Like Fiat, for instance. Yes, they used to be a laughingstock, but they're not now. Actually, I think that the US automaker doing the best job in Europe right now is Ford. They produce quality cars for reasonable money, and they don't fall apart. And really, that's what you expect out of a car.