Fiat wins approval to buy Bertone, will invest $215.9 million over 3 years

Posted: Aug 06, 2009
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Fiat SpA’s bid for Carrozzeria Bertone was approved Thursday by the Italian government. Fiat won against other bidders including entrepreneurs Gianmario Rossignolo and Domenico Reviglio, Chinese automaker FAW Group Corp. and an unnamed Spanish group.

The Italian automaker will now invest $215.9 million (150 million euros) over three years in the coach-builder that has produced models ranging from the Lamborghini Miura to the Volkswagen Polo.

Fiat and Chrysler Group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne said that he is interested in Bertone’s plant in Turin, Italy. He said that the plant will be retooled to produce niche vehicles. No details about the niche models were given besides that Fiat will sell them in Europe and North America.

Previous reports from Italy have stated that Fiat will use the Bertone plant to make convertibles and large sedans in 2011.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoWeek


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  • Pat

    I can't wait to see what Fiat will be bringing to the U.S…. this sounds like it's going to be prettttyy nice

  • ReaganiteRepublican

    I’ve spent some time in Europe, and know, have owned, and rented FIAT and Alfa Romeo cars. The technology and quality is very good, the style is fantastic, and If you thought having more small cars in America will be a boring hell, then you’ve never driven a FIAT.

    Forget what your college roomate told you in 1974, most of the problems arose from US safety and emissions regs, dealer issues in the US, and Russian steel which the company unfortunately obtained in a barter deal for a factory there.

    I myself had a 1978 FIAT 131 Mirafiori that was the most enjoyable economy car you could imagine… still on the road 30 years later, too.

    And current FIAT CEO Sergio Marchionne is a genius, if you read what The Economist had to say about what’s he’s done at the company, you’d understand just how well run FIAT is… the only currently profitable European automaker.

    I also rented a small, 4 door FIAT Panda in Greece… it got 40-50mpg on gas, and was a very sporty drive for an econobox. FIAT also makes what we would call a midsize, the Croma… which is like a Taurus, and they produce all matter of trucks right-up-to big rigs.

    They invented the now widespread “single rail” diesel technology, and their smallest cars get 70mpg on diesel… who needs hybrids?

    Any portrayal of FIAT as a producer of antiquidated, poor quality little cars is nonsense from the uninformed. IMO, they are going to surprise a whole lot of people.

    http://fiat2america.blogspot.com/

  • ReaganiteRepublican

    I’ve spent some time in Europe, and know, have owned, and rented FIAT and Alfa Romeo cars. The technology and quality is very good, the style is fantastic, and If you thought having more small cars in America will be a boring hell, then you’ve never driven a FIAT.

    Forget what your college roomate told you in 1974, most of the problems arose from US safety and emissions regs, dealer issues in the US, and Russian steel which the company unfortunately obtained in a barter deal for a factory there.

    I myself had a 1978 FIAT 131 Mirafiori that was the most enjoyable economy car you could imagine… still on the road 30 years later, too.

    And current FIAT CEO Sergio Marchionne is a genius, if you read what The Economist had to say about what’s he’s done at the company, you’d understand just how well run FIAT is… the only currently profitable European automaker.

    I also rented a small, 4 door FIAT Panda in Greece… it got 40-50mpg on gas, and was a very sporty drive for an econobox. FIAT also makes what we would call a midsize, the Croma… which is like a Taurus, and they produce all matter of trucks right-up-to big rigs.

    They invented the now widespread “single rail” diesel technology, and their smallest cars get 70mpg on diesel… who needs hybrids?

    Any portrayal of FIAT as a producer of antiquidated, poor quality little cars is nonsense from the uninformed. IMO, they are going to surprise a whole lot of people.

    http://fiat2america.blogspot.com/