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On-Again, Off-Again…Fiat Chrysler Still Pursuing Merger Talks With Volkswagen

Bringing to mind the globally reported telephone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne has told reporters he’s still hasn’t received a call from Volkswagen chief Matth


Bringing to mind the globally reported telephone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne has told reporters he’s still hasn’t received a call from Volkswagen chief Matthias Mueller to set-up talks on a possible merger between the two automotive industry giants.

Big picture, there are benefits to be had in such a merger but there is a massive gulf between the two brands - philosophical, engineering and cultural just for starters – and at this stage the German and Italian CEOs resemble two heavyweight boxers circling each other early in Round One, sizing each other up before one lands the first blow.

It was Marchionne (pictured, top of page) who first mooted a possible Fiat Chrysler-Volkswagen Group tie-up earlier this month following the announcement of PSA’s purchase of Opel and Vauxhall (the combined company now the number two automotive conglomerate in Europe). At the time Marchionne suggested Fiat Chrysler presented the only merger option for Volkswagen should the Germans seek to strengthen their market leadership over the PSA-Opel-Vauxhall combination.

However Marchionne seemed to have changed his mind only a few days later when he emerged from a meeting between North American vehicle manufactures and President Trump, telling reporters he had “zero interest” in a merger with the Volkswagen Group.

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