Sergio Marchionne, the big absentee at the IAA

Posted on 10-09-2013 at 7:32 by sir_smokalot – 18 Comments”

On the eve of the IAA in Frankfurt showed the CEO of Fiat-Chrysler unexpectedly don’t know to be present, due to last minute unforeseen business commitments. Also, chairman John Elkann is missing. This is, to put it mildly, remarkable.

The IAA is in the global press is known as the event where leaders from the automotive industry, and so to interview. Marchionne deleted two press events on Tuesday, and probably Wednesday, not present at a meeting of organisation ACEA, where he is chairman.

This past weekend, shone the CEO also by absence during the Grand Prix of Monza (home race of the Ferrari brand). This is food for speculation, and creates anxiety among investors.

Delays Alfa Romeo’s and acquisition of Chrysler

It is generally accepted that two things at the base of this is: a new delay in the already several times shifted the timeline for the rebirth of Alfa Romeo, and the difficulties that Fiat in the US are experiencing for the last tuft of shares of Chrysler from Veba, a fund that the American trade unions founded after the bankruptcy of the company in 2009.

The one with the different context, especially with regard to the reintroduction of Alfa to the Us market. Total control over the Chrysler group is a must for Marchionne cum suis.

Now play these two things, not since yesterday, so we are asking ourselves what there is now so dire the situation is, making the management of these important auto show must shoot and is prepared to have the inevitable loss of face that this involves to collect.

The answer to this question only has Marchionne and his inner circle, but this is not good.

In the meantime, the offer on the stands of the Fiat group’s traditional lean. The only two Alfa’s have a minimal faceliftje received, approval for the change, but once again a different color on the Panda dyed, and also Lancia should have a new color on the Delta. In short: again nothing to report. This while the competition can believe in firsts.

Let’s for Marchionne and his group hope that the stay away from the show them some concrete results, because a dent in the already not intact image delivers this for sure.