Marchionne To U.S.: Buy Made In Italy Chryslers, Or I'll Kill This Kitten Close My Italian Plants

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Chrylser’s U.S. plants are working flat-out, and reopening closed plants is not an option, Fiat & Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne tells the Milan daily Corriere della Sera in a wide-ranging interview. Plants and workers in other countries, such as Mexico, Canada or Europe will have to fill a third of the U.S. demand for Chryslers. Marchionne thinks that “demand for cars in Europe will remain low for long. At least until 2014.” He counts on increasing U.S. demand for made-in-Italy Chryslers to keep his Italian plants open. If that demand should slacken, then …

“Then we should withdraw from two of our five sites in Italy,” Marchionne says.

“Quali???”

“What???” asks an aghast interviewer.

Marchionne reminds him of Sophie’s choice. In the movie, Sophie was forced to decide which of her two children was to be sent to the Auschwitz gas chamber. She chose her son to live, and her daughter to die.

According to Marchionne, Sophie had to spend the rest of her life with the nightmares of that decision.

Actually, in the movie, she committed suicide.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Volt 230 Volt 230 on Feb 24, 2012

    the last time I remember factories running at top speed to meet up with demand, we got the Xcars' and their infamous reputation as GM's biggest POS.

  • Asdf Asdf on Feb 24, 2012

    I think Bertel Schmitt may have misunderstood the interviewer here - when he asks "Quali?" (which may be translated as "Which ones?" in this context), it's simply a question of which plants Marchionne considers closing.

  • Ciddyguy Ciddyguy on Feb 24, 2012

    I think this simply means that Marchione is threatening to close a plant or two in ITALY if people don't buy his products, Fiat derived Chryslers or Fiat products itself. He also knows that his own country, Italy is on the brink of default, due to poor management of its own money and from what I've read, Italy is one of the countries that if it defaults, it could spell disaster for Europe and the Euro as a whole. They even have an interim president or whatever whom is working to keep Italy alive financially, even if it means a temporary state of austerity to get their finances back on a firmer ground. And to be quite frank, Fiat's woes, while not dire could be eventually if Europe does not improve its financial state as that means new automotive sales are in the doldrums as of right now.

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    • Rnc Rnc on Feb 29, 2012

      @highdesertcat Just as Fiat saved Chryco's bacon, you know Chryco had so much advanced tech. that with just a few billion in government guarenteed loans the next K car was just in the wings.

  • Obbop Obbop on Feb 25, 2012

    Cute kitty. Another here; animated: obbop.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/surprised-kitten.gif add your own "http://" No matter how the economic winds blow I fear no evil because the "deserving ones" will continue to have access to more than ample vittles, health care, recreation and all they desire with no concern about the basics of life. Just lead your life as advised by Alfred E. Neuman; "What, me worry?" and all will be well. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman

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