Fiat's CEO, Sergio Marchionne, did not name any of the niche models to be built in Turin, but he did admit the cars built there will be marketed in both Europe and North America, through Chrysler.
The Italian media speculates that Fiat could use Bertone's factory to produce all kinds of models starting in the second half of 2011. Bertone unions have already expressed their fears that the Italian manufacturer will move production of the Lancia Ypsilon from the Termini Imerese plant to Bertone's. Although the Ypsilon is not a niche car, the factory that assembles it is scheduled for closure in 2011.
The Bertone struggle began after the owning family lost control over the business in February 2008, in favor of bankruptcy administrators. The affected part of the business involved only the manufacturing unit, while the design part remains under the Bertone family control.
Still, this doesn't mean all is going well for Bertone. Back in April, the two Bertone women in charge of Stile Bertone, the comapny's styling studio, got into a disagreement over the former's Pininfarina and Ghia designer Emanuele Nicosia role in the company and ended up in court. Nicosia was prevented by the court to work for Bertone.
Fiat managed to take control of Bertone in its second attempt, after in 2007 talks between the two parties failed.
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