Marchionne says Fiat Chrysler can make 6 million cars per year

Tue, 01 Apr 2014

The combined Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will see its production capacity increase from a projected 4.6 million in 2014 to 6 million units once it completes its integration, according to statements made by FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne.

"With the initiatives we will announce in May, six million is accessible," Marchionne said during a Fiat shareholders' meeting in Turin, according to The Detroit News. Marchionne is aiming to complete the merger between the Turin, Italy-based Fiat and the Auburn Hills, MI-based Chrysler by the end of this year.

Increasing production by 1.4 million units is no small order, particularly when combined Fiat and Chrysler sales have increased only modestly in the past few years - only 4.4 million units were sold in 2013, and while 4.6 million is projected for 2014, 4.5 million is also a distinct possibility. Six million units per year has been Marchionne's self-imposed goal for the combined automaker, according to The News, claiming that FCA would need to crest that point to achieve profitability.

While that number will be difficult to reach, particularly as European sales are still so poor, a new lineup of products for the US market, led by the Chrysler 200, Jeep Cherokee and Renegade and a solid entry into the pickup market with the latest Ram 1500 should help bolster FCA's numbers. Whether it will see such results elsewhere in the world, though, is an altogether tougher question.

By Brandon Turkus