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Issue 6
European Car Invasion
Last month General Motors and Chrysler closed over a thousand dealerships in preparation for bankruptcy filing protection, a plan that will ease the transition of these once great American car companies into another faulty corporation. This move will leave many employees jobless, and will put a strain on an already damaged auto market. Though difficult to see there may be a silver lining at the end of this cloud; Chrysler has signed a deal with Italian automakers Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino in which the Italian carmakers would take control of Chrysler’s assets and help Chrysler produce fuel-efficient cars in exchange for fabricating new FIAT models in the United States.
This deal could mean that we would see FIAT cars on American streets by the end of 2010. FIAT is mostly known for its compact 500 series, referred to many as the most popular car in the world. FIAT is the sixth leading automaker in Europe in terms of sales, and has a presence in almost every country outside the United States.
General Motors is working on similar deals with other European car companies, and is expecting a hefty check from the Government’s top bail out agency; The US Treasury.
Outside the United States Americans are known for their large gas guzzling vehicles. American streets are clogged with Suburbans, Jeeps, and pick up trucks; vehicles that are otherwise rarely seen on European roads. Europeans are accustomed to smaller vehicles where even a pint-sized Volkswagen is considered too “Spacey.” Europeans also have to deal with expensive gasoline prices; where they have sometimes reached seven dollars per gallon. In preparation for a possible invasion of European cars on American streets within the next four to five years here is a list of a few cars we don’t see on American streets, but probably would want to.
- José Silva
