BMW & Fiat to cooperate on small-cars; Alfas to be sold through US Mini dealers

[nadepalma]

Two stories found in multiple sites online today. Sorry if a repost:

SOURCE: Automotive News

Fiat, BMW plan small-car alliance

Luca Ciferri
July 8, 2008 12:09 CET
UPDATED: 07/08/08 16:55 CET

TURIN -- Fiat and BMW today said they plan to cooperate on platforms and components.

BMW brand development head Friedrich Eichiner said in a statement: "We are currently examining with Fiat group possibilities for the joint use of components and systems in Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles."

The automakers have agreed not to divulge more details of the possible collaboration, a BMW statement said.

Supplier sources told Automotive News Europe that the companies will develop a joint platform that will underpin the next Fiat Grande Punto, BMW's third-generation Mini and the next-generation Alfa Romeo MiTo.

The two companies are considering developing a new family of gasoline and diesel engines, industry sources told ANE.

The BMW statement said Eichiner and Alfredo Altavilla, Fiat's head of business development, have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on architectures and components.

BMW said cooperating with Fiat will help it achieve economies of scale and cost reductions as part of its Number One strategy.

It said the results of its discussions with Fiat will be known by the end of the year.

MORE HERE



SOURCE: Automotive News

BMW to help Alfa Romeo in North America
Luca Ciferri
Automotive News
July 8, 2008 - 11:54 am ET

TURIN, Italy -- Fiat said today that BMW will provide support in launching Alfa Romeo in North America.

"Mini U.S. dealers would have the possibility to also sell Alfa Romeo cars," a Fiat spokesman told Automotive News Europe today.

Fiat and BMW issued a joint press release announcing that they have signed an agreement for possible co-operation on components and architectures for their Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles.

Fiat's version of the joint statement also says that "as part of possible cooperation, BMW Group will provide Fiat Group Automobiles with support in launching the Alfa Romeo brand in the North American market.

MORE HERE

[crooner214]

Does this mean I might be able to buy a 500 at some point? I love the looks of those little guys.

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by crooner214

Does this mean I might be able to buy a 500 at some point? I love the looks of those little guys.

That sounds extremely likely. Although, it's a weird thing if they do it, because the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 are basically direct competitors at this point in the small premium class. I love the 500's look too.

Fiat is taking a very unorthodox path back to the US market:

Alfa Romeo launching a flagship first (Competitzione 8C) at Maserati dealers
Possibly selling Alfas at Mini dealers (and the 500?)
Possibly building a US production facility (or having Chrysler build their cars, or buying a mothballed US auto plant).

Interesting stuff!

[neshapop]

Great news, finally some good looking cars will be available along with Mini!

I hope the same will be seen in Canada soon, my Italian neighbor will be VERY happy.

[mgescuro]

Wait. I thought BMW was workign with PSA???

[spidge]

Originally Posted by neshapop

Great news, finally some good looking cars will be available along with Mini!

I hope the same will be seen in Canada soon, my Italian neighbor will be VERY happy.

Does this mean we'll get the MiTo?

[CadiEldo67]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Alfa Romeo launching a flagship first (Competitzione 8C) at Maserati dealers
Possibly selling Alfas at Mini dealers (and the 500?)
Possibly building a US production facility (or having Chrysler build their cars, or buying a mothballed US auto plant).

Interesting stuff!

If Alfa begins sales at a Mini dealership, I would like to order a Brera with a 3.2 V6, in red.

[momo67]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Wait. I thought BMW was workign with PSA???

They are working with PSA on engines. Platforms are another story.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by momo67

They are working with PSA on engines. Platforms are another story.

I had thought PSA and Mini were going to platform share, beyond their initial partnership on engines.
Hmmm... interesting....

[davidlane]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

I had thought PSA and Mini were going to platform share, beyond their initial partnership on engines.
Hmmm... interesting....

When was there any info that BMW and PSA were going to platform share? The engine share was all about production. Just like the previous deal with Chrysler for the previous Mini engine.

From you're posts it's obvious you're anti USA and pro anything European.

However, this does not mean you know as much as you think! It does make a lot of your comments controversial. Perhaps that is your objective.

[Ambalanche]

I wish gm had something that could truely go head to head with any of those. Pontiac would be the perfect outlet for a mini/mito competitor if it would be built with the quality of the others. have you seen the 500 Abarth's interior? So cool in a small car! GM just needs to realize that Americans will pay good money for great small cars!

[davidlane]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

I wish gm had something that could truely go head to head with any of those. Pontiac would be the perfect outlet for a mini/mito competitor if it would be built with the quality of the others. have you seen the 500 Abarth's interior? So cool in a small car! GM just needs to realize that Americans will pay good money for great small cars!

To the best of my knowledge GMNA has never done small cars well. Nor do they seem to be able to market cars that are successful in other markets, Opel, in North America.

[Tstag]

The 500 is a Fiat product not an Alfa Romeo product I can't see MINI allowing the 500 or the MITO into it's dealer network. But the rest of the Alfa range maybe....

[Frankster177]

The 500 is smaller than the Mini.
Good news though.
Rear wheel drive alfa's would b cool.
Rear wheel drive Arbath Fiats.

They should ressurect the Cisitalia brand.
Make smallish sports cars.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by davidlane

When was there any info that BMW and PSA were going to platform share? The engine share was all about production. Just like the previous deal with Chrysler for the previous Mini engine.

From you're posts it's obvious you're anti USA and pro anything European.

However, this does not mean you know as much as you think! It does make a lot of your comments controversial. Perhaps that is your objective.

There were a couple links posted on GMI a few years back about BMW and PSA. I guess time can change things.

I'm not anti-USA, I'm anti-stupidity. The US just has more than its share of stupid people and stupid people running its companies stupidly. I just don't believe in the nationalistic "USA-rocks rah rah rah" attitude that permeates everything.
And I'm more than willing to stand my ground.