Piech: Fiat-Chrysler-GME, Three Sick People in One Bed

Leaving aside the civil war he has to face at home against Wolfgang Porsche, Ferdinand Piech took a moment to look at what may become Volkswagen Group's most fierce competition: the possible Fiat-Chrysler-GM Europe company. While attending the release of the new Polo in Sardinia, Piech made used a lot of... metaphors when talking about the competition.

“Three sick people in one bed don’t make one healthy person,” he was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. Asked if he sees the three companies would become a worthy opponent, Piech said “I’m glad whenever the ones that are less viable help each other. But you cannot expect a world record when three footsore people try to run a marathon.”

By taking this stand, Piech joins the general trend seen these days within Volkswagen, as far as Fiat's movements are concerned. Last week, Volkswagen's CEO Martin Winterkorn stepped into the spotlight and took his shot at Fiat's CEO as his plans.

"I think Sergio Marchionne is trying to increase volumes to lower costs and to survive through Chrysler and possibly Opel, but I wonder if he will be able to succeed because successfully managing several brands and obtaining true synergies is really difficult." Winterkorn said.

All this talk might be in vain though, as Fiat slowly becomes the loser of the Opel affair. At least for now, the Italian manufacturer has lost the lead in the battle with Magna and GAZ. Still, the fight is not over. Not between Fiat and Magna, nor between Fiat and Volkswagen.