Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market?

**nadepalma** · 12-11-2007, 11:44 AM

We've been hearing rumblings of this for some time.

The rumor before was that they were looking at Canada. Fiat S.p.A. CEO Sergio Marchionne is actually Italo-Canadian and was discussing the possibility of building a plant in Ontario with Ottawa officials.

However, with the dollar falling, could we see a N.A. plant based in the US? Or perhaps in Mexico? There are already reports that Canadian wages are at parity or more expensive than their UAW counter-parts in the US.

Would this encourage other Euro mass-market manufacturers like PSA or Renault to re-establish their brands in the US? Or maybe for companies like VW to offer their other brands like Skoda or SEAT in the US market like they do in Mexico?

If they build a plant, I wonder if we will see Fiat, Alfa Romeo AND Lancia make a US comeback?

SOURCE: ItaliaSpeed

BrickTamland · 12-11-2007, 12:38 PM

I would love to see those brands come back to the U.S. They make some neat cars. All the Aflas are pretty hot. Lancia...well the Ypsilon is cool. The Fiat Bravo, Chroma, Grande Punto, and 500 are also all pretty cool.

BGH · 12-11-2007, 12:54 PM

There had been talk about pegging the CDN dollar. Its been to this level before and always falls.

skylark68 · 12-11-2007, 01:59 PM

It would be interesting to see these cars in the U.S. once again. It would be really great to see a RWD Alfa in the showroom.

I couldn't care less for a return of Peugeot or Renault though. I haven't been a fan of French cars, although the consumer wins if there are more choices.

stevecmh · 12-11-2007, 02:26 PM

i think it would be good to have them backk..

but how many dealers are they going to have?

91Saturn · 12-11-2007, 03:02 PM

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that Alfa was returning "soon" to the U.S. market, well, I'd have about 100 bucks.

Ssom · 12-11-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91Saturn

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that Alfa was returning "soon" to the U.S. market, well, I'd have about 100 bucks.

They still are coming for the 2009 model year as was planned, it's an expensive and time consuming mission to (re)establish ones brand in the US

mbukukanyau · 12-11-2007, 04:16 PM

I would love to pass Fiats stopped on the side of the freeway. Fiats I remember were notoriously bad quality

**ChevroletRevived** · 12-11-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssom

They still are coming for the 2009 model year as was planned, it's an expensive and time consuming mission to (re)establish ones brand in the US

Yeah, that's for sure. The U.S is the most competitive car market in the world, very hard to crack. The low dollar has brought some positive benefits it looks like though, more people are interested in American manufacturing again. Very good to hear.

Bravada · 12-11-2007, 04:36 PM

You'd want to look again. Fiat not only builds attractive cars (both under its own, but also Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands), but they also became of much higher quality nowadays and reasonably reliable, whatever "common knowledge" would say. Fiat Pandas seem to run ad inifinitum, even the usually capricious Alfas tend not to require more than regular maintenance.

PSA is setting new standards in interior quality, while at the same time offering great style and practicality in different combos. Citroens are starting to perform better than Opels/Vauxhalls in reliability studies, and a Pug without fancy frills can be a surprisingly troublefree ride.

Anyhoo, go Fiat

Ssom · 12-11-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

I would love to pass Fiats stopped on the side of the freeway. Fiats I remember were notoriously bad quality

The new ones are developing a reputation for good quality and reliability. The Panda was a Top 10 finisher in the Top Gear ownership survey and that car is generally considered to the the first model of Fiats "renaissance", the 500 is built on the same platform in the same factory with the same running gear, so that too should be good. Hopefully the same will apply to the Grande Punto, 159 and Bravo (Though with Microsoft badging in the Interior, I'd be worried...)

kenman923 · 12-11-2007, 07:10 PM

I am hoping that Fiat has addressed their quality issues. Remember when Fiat was in the U.S. that was known as "Fix It Again, Tony."

KIDDIESEL79 · 12-11-2007, 07:22 PM

Alfa and Fiat make some awesome looking cars. I look forward to their return.

91Saturn · 12-11-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssom

They still are coming for the 2009 model year as was planned

I'll believe it when I see it.

Ssom · 12-12-2007, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenman923

I am hoping that Fiat has addressed their quality issues. Remember when Fiat was in the U.S. that was known as "Fix It Again, Tony."

I always hated that acronym, I don't know any mechanics named Tony, Tony is the guy who sells you the car. The mechanic is more than likely going to be called "Bruce", just like seemingly every other mechanic I know...

12-11-2007, 11:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
nadepalma GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 5,579	Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? We've been hearing rumblings of this for some time. The rumor before was that they were looking at Canada. Fiat S.p.A. CEO Sergio Marchionne is actually Italo-Canadian and was discussing the possibility of building a plant in Ontario with Ottawa officials. However, with the dollar falling, could we see a N.A. plant based in the US? Or perhaps in Mexico? There are already reports that Canadian wages are at parity or more expensive than their UAW counter-parts in the US. Would this encourage other Euro mass-market manufacturers like PSA or Renault to re-establish their brands in the US? Or maybe for companies like VW to offer their other brands like Skoda or SEAT in the US market like they do in Mexico? If they build a plant, I wonder if we will see Fiat, Alfa Romeo AND Lancia make a US comeback? SOURCE: ItaliaSpeed __________________ Email: nadepalma@gminsidenews.com "La vita è come un albero di Natale..c'è sempre qualcuno che ti rompe le palle!" "You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves" -Abraham Lincoln "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried" -Winston Churchill "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress" -John Adams

12-11-2007, 12:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
BrickTamland 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waterville, OH Drives: 2003 Nissan Maxima SE Posts: 4,619	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? I would love to see those brands come back to the U.S. They make some neat cars. All the Aflas are pretty hot. Lancia...well the Ypsilon is cool. The Fiat Bravo, Chroma, Grande Punto, and 500 are also all pretty cool. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own. Current: Super Black 2003 Nissan Maxima SE Former: Brilliant Blue Metallic 1995 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD

12-11-2007, 12:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
BGH 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 708	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? There had been talk about pegging the CDN dollar. Its been to this level before and always falls.

12-11-2007, 01:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
skylark68 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pearland, TX Drives: 1989 GMC Suburban 1968 Buick Skylark Posts: 1,255	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? It would be interesting to see these cars in the U.S. once again. It would be really great to see a RWD Alfa in the showroom. I couldn't care less for a return of Peugeot or Renault though. I haven't been a fan of French cars, although the consumer wins if there are more choices. __________________ The Mechanic: You'd have yourself a real street-sweeper here if you put a little work into it. G.T.O.: I go fast enough. The Driver: You can never go fast enough.

12-11-2007, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
stevecmh 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Muskego, WI Drives: 04' Grand Prix GT 03' Pierce Saber Fire Engine Posts: 3,235	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? i think it would be good to have them backk.. but how many dealers are they going to have?

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12-11-2007, 03:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
91Saturn 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 267	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that Alfa was returning "soon" to the U.S. market, well, I'd have about 100 bucks.

12-11-2007, 04:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
mbukukanyau 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In front of my computer Drives: 2006 HHR 2002 Corolla-Before I saw the light Posts: 7,996	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? I would love to pass Fiats stopped on the side of the freeway. Fiats I remember were notoriously bad quality __________________ Before Understanding comes Faith "Legislatures represent people, not acres or trees"-Earl Warren

12-11-2007, 04:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bravada 70 MPG Two Mode Saturn Hybrid Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 10,715	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? You'd want to look again. Fiat not only builds attractive cars (both under its own, but also Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands), but they also became of much higher quality nowadays and reasonably reliable, whatever "common knowledge" would say. Fiat Pandas seem to run ad inifinitum, even the usually capricious Alfas tend not to require more than regular maintenance. PSA is setting new standards in interior quality, while at the same time offering great style and practicality in different combos. Citroens are starting to perform better than Opels/Vauxhalls in reliability studies, and a Pug without fancy frills can be a surprisingly troublefree ride. Anyhoo, go Fiat

12-11-2007, 07:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
kenman923 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2009 Acura TSX Posts: 2,621	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? I am hoping that Fiat has addressed their quality issues. Remember when Fiat was in the U.S. that was known as "Fix It Again, Tony." __________________ Current: 2009 Acura TSX Gone but not forgotten: 2001 Saturn L300 1993 Saturn SL2 1986 Nissan Sentra

12-11-2007, 07:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
KIDDIESEL79 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 804	Re: Fiat to build North American plant as Alfa returns to US market? Alfa and Fiat make some awesome looking cars. I look forward to their return.

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