Fiat Might Build Niche Cars at Bertone Facility

Marchionne never sleeps. At least this is what one would be tempted to believe after Fiat has been extremely active in the automotive sector, especially when thinking at the Chrysler alliance, Opel takeover negotiations, Saab talks and many other joint ventures. This time, Marchionne says Fiat is interested in Bertone's assembly plant in Turin that could be used by the Italian carmaker to make niche cars.

What exactly these niche cars are, nobody knows. But Marchionne said that he is very optimistic that Fiat could take control over the plant, according to Autonews.

"We made an honest and industrially rational offer to try to revive the company," Marchionne was quoted as saying a few days ago.

The Italian media on the other hand wrote that Fiat could use Bertone's factory to produce all kinds of models starting in the second half of 2011. On the other hand, unions are worried that, in case Fiat manages to get control over the factory, the company would move production of the Lancia Ypsilon from the Termini Imerese plant to Bertone's. Although this isn't a niche car, it would mean new job cuts in Italy, sooner than one would expect, as Fiat already announced it would stop production at the factory in 2011.

Fiat estimates that Bertone's plant's capacity could go as high as 48,000 units a year on three shifts.

As for the bidding process, Fiat currently competes with Gianmario Rossignolo who is also looking to take control over the plant and build around 10,000 units a year of a luxury sedan and a SUV, the aforementioned source added.