If the headquarters of luxury auto
brand Ferrari were to move to the Netherlands, it would not
change its Italian essence, Chairman Sergio Marchionne said
Tuesday.
Indeed, the Ferrari trademark is so popular that
Marchionne, who is also chief executive of Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles, said he will also consider offering more than the
planned 10% at an initial public offering (IPO) of Ferrari
shares later this year.
That may be necessary if demand for Ferrari shares threaten
to push the price too high, he said.
Possibly establishing a holding company in the Netherlands
for the brand, as FCO itself did last year, would help with the
listing of Ferrari on American equity markets, Marchionne said
at the Geneva International Motor Show.
But it will always remain a sought-after mark of Italian
quality, he added.
"Ferrari SpA will remain Italian and will pay taxes in
Italy," Marchionne told reporters.
"Every car will be built in Italy".
Manufacturing jobs with FCA will continue to grow, said
Marchionne, including the amount of work at the Melfi plant in
the Basilicata region of southern Italy.
That "could rise to 1,900" positions from the present plan
for 1,500 jobs, boosted by some secondments from other plants as
well as new hires, Marchionne said.
If all goes well with new production lines this year - such
as the Alfa Romeo models at the company's Mirafiori plant -
there could be more jobs opening up and plant expansions in
future.
That would be good news for Italy's labour market where the
rate of unemployment, while coming down slightly in January to
12.6% from December's 12.7%, remains stubbornly high.
One day earlier, an autoworkers union signed a deal at the
Melfi plant upping shifts from 15 to 20.
That deal means "a total of 1,000 structural hirings,
including the 700 already made," as well as pay hikes, the RSA
Uilm union said.
The increases at the Melfi plant, about two hours southeast
of Naples, will serve production of the new Jeep Renegade and
Fiat 500X.
FCA last week announced a production increase in Panda
model cars at its Pomigliano d'Arco plant, where 12 workers who
were put on reduced-hour contracts will now be back on the job
full-time.
At the time, Fiom said Melfi workers weren't happy about
the agreement signed during nighttime negotiations with other
labor unions.
FCA announced plans earlier this year to expand production
of several models and boost sales, and Panda production at the
Pomigliano d'Arco plant outside Naples will increase from 400
vehicles per shift to 420.
Meanwhile, Marchionne said he will do nothing to dilute the
Ferrari brand, dismissing suggestions of designing a four-door
or SUV version.
"That is not in the Ferrari DNA," he said.
He also maintained that Ferrari will win its next Formula
One title "by 2018, or even before".
"We have the car, and the drivers are really pumped up,"
said Marchionne.
"I think a world championship is due: for the Ferrari fans,
for its history and for those working in the company," he said.
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