Hi being pretty new to Fiat I had heard a few years back Fiat was going to the wall and looked like it might go broke. Something happened and they seemed to be OK though.

Whats the companies position now and where is it strategically? What do they own and what owns them? Where are they positioned on the leader car makers ladder?

Any ideas please?

As far as how strong the company is I don't know but you have got to bare in mind the world wide ressesion were walking into. I work for Goodyear and they are not as strong as they was 12 months ago so I imagine most big companies would be in the same position.

Fiat own Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and I beleive they own Maserati, they also have there own in house tuning company called Abarth.

Thanks for that. I was really trying to get info between the Fiat speed hump and now..

danielsydney said:

Something happened and they seemed to be OK though.

Click to expand...

They changed the management...Ask Wiki about it.

danielsydney said:

Hi being pretty new to Fiat I had heard a few years back Fiat was going to the wall and looked like it might go broke. Something happened and they seemed to be OK though.

Whats the companies position now and where is it strategically? What do they own and what owns them? Where are they positioned on the leader car makers ladder?

Any ideas please?

Click to expand...

Not many, if any motor manufacturers are on solid ground. Especially the USA derived versions. Fiat will do all they can to survive as will all other large to medium companies who have the ability to shape shift to a degree. Its the small companies that will buckle mainly, but obviously not exclusively.

I was reading an article on pistonheads and one of Fiats senior managers was interviwed and he claims that non of the car manufacturers are safe and is expecting at least one big German car company and one big Japaneese company to collapse. I've just had a look on Piston heads because i was going to post the link but I cant find it.

We produce Semi-Synthetic Vulcanised rubber at work mainly for the O.E. market and we were laid off for an extra week at Christmas because Mercedes had postponed production for 4 weeks and Honda and vauxhall were laying off and no Mini's were being produced until there stock levels have gone down So they did not need the tyres Building There is also a rumour going around work that one of the car manufacturers were planing a 9 month Lay off how true that is I don't know But i think the big companies are at just as much at risk as the smaller companies.

This is a good source....

http://uk.reuters.com/business/quotes/quote?symbol=FIA.MI

Fiat's shares are doing quite well generally at the moment, but yesterday so were all the motor companies, on a technical response to an anomaly. Fiat specialises in smaller, more economical cars, and these will weather the depression better. If the company can get its new Multiair engines to market soon this should give them a small boost. However, all motor manufacturers are in danger because the market for cars has tanked, and there was overproduction already before the economic collapse. No company can maintain production of all models as if nothing had happened to the market, and jobs will, sadly, go. The next few years will be difficult; the trouble is, when there is a pick up the price of oil will rocket once more, so if anyone out there is able to think of a new car don't be seduced by temporarily cheap petrol.

And yes, Fiat has good management now and is as secure as any car company - which is not to say much, and Fiat does own Maserati.