FIAT was, for many years, a leading manufacturer. It innovated and produced cars with cutting-edge technical solutions. Then, for a long time, they decided it was no longer a technician and car enthusiast at the helm, but rather an accountant. They realized they could produce subpar cars and still sell them, threatening layoffs and forcing the state to pump in a lot, a lot of money. When Marchionne arrived, things changed—some for the better, some for the worse—but he tried to erase the provincialism and modernize the whole thing. Now there’s Stellantis, and they’ve decided FIAT will make quirky cars in quirky colors to “reflect Italian flair.” I hear the Panda (a city car in production since the early 80s) is now called Pandina—a nickname, but I wonder who will buy a car with that name. And I can’t help but wonder if all this is some sort of revenge against the former competitor…

#cars #fiat #stellantis

    • Stefano Marinelli@mastodon.bsd.cafeOP
      1·
      1 month ago

      @[email protected] @[email protected] Some of them were great cars. Vittorio Ghidella was a great leader; he was passionate and loved cars. It’s known that he used to visit the factories to see how people were working and to improve their lives by understanding the problems they were facing. Then, Cesare Romiti arrived, and he focused solely on maximizing profits, without caring about cars anymore. Romiti even went as far as saying that Fiat should focus on something else, not on car production, at a time when cars were one the country’s main products. Really, no comment…

        • Stefano Marinelli@mastodon.bsd.cafeOP
          1·
          1 month ago

          @[email protected] @[email protected] I completely agree. For many years, I considered Mercedes one of my favorite manufacturers and I had their cars, which lasted and aged without major issues. The last two, however, were complete failures – expensive, definitely of lower quality than their price would suggest, but especially the treatment I received from the company. Offensive and humiliating, almost with a sense of superiority towards the customer, despite their shortcomings. One example: the last car arrived with missing parts. Paid for, but missing due to a “component shortage” (2021). They promised to install them “as soon as available.” After more than two years, no news, and when I followed up, they responded that it would be up to them to decide if and when to install those parts, and that the contract protected them. I immediately terminated the lease for that car and replaced it. Even with the termination, there were problems, and they didn’t refund the amounts I was entitled to, bouncing between the parent company and the financial services (them, of course). I let it go, but for me, this was enough.