AN ALWAYS STRONGER COOPERATION
The Italian-American Group, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), one of the largest automotive companies in the world, has often been, over the last months, the subject of merger speculation and indiscretions.
Often, over last spring and summer, the specialized press underlined the interest shown by the Chinese multinational automotive manufacturing companies, the Great Wall Motors and Geely, for FCA. After that, speculations have reached another peak with the recent growing rumors concerning a possible fusion between the Italian-American Group and Hyundai, the multinational chaebol headquartered in South Korea.
And, rumors aside, it is indisputable that FCA attracts more and more the automotive market’s giants, in particular for its exceptional portfolio of successful brands (Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Jeep etc.)
Today the Italian-American Group is connected with Hyundai for an important technical partnership mostly based on the creation of transmission and lighting systems.
Answering to a Sole 24 Ore’s journalist, after the presentation on the Alfa Romeo’s return to Formula One, organized in the Alfa Romeo Museum near Milan, Sergio Marchionne – the talented, tireless 65-year-old FCA’s CEO, – offered some relevant insights on the subject.
“We are cooperating with Hyundai Motor in the technological segment, for the transmission systems and in the hydrogen sector. And we hope there will be more in the future.”
NOT A MERGER BUT A MARRIAGE MADE OF HYDROGEN…
The CEO Sergio Marchionne made it clear that the two Groups are not currently contemplating the possibility of a merger. He added, however, that a possible growing integration would be extremely interesting for both parties.
“FCA already buys Hyundai components, for example the transmission systems that we use in the American market. And we might build new bridges, in particular for the technical development of transmissions and of the hydrogen technology”, Marchionne added.
The FCA’s CEO has never been a strong supporter of the lithium-ion electrification. And with Hyundai he is maybe opening a door on the hydrogen cells leading technology, which is gathering always more consensus in the post-fossil fuel era. The South-Korean conglomerate is, in fact, already very successfully active in the hydrogen fuel cell segment.
