Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne is considering adding full electric vehicles to the carmaker’s line-up including the Maserati Alfieri sportscar and a small city car.
"I’ve always thought the economic model that supports Tesla is something that Fiat Chrysler could replicate as we have the brand and the vehicles to do it," Marchionne told Bloomberg Television in Venice. "I think that to use one of our potential cars as an experiment in this area is interesting."
Maserati Alfieri concept automobile at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s expansion into the electric car business would follow Volkswagen AG’s plans to accelerate efforts to adapt to the industry’s shift toward self-driving electric vehicles. Earlier this month, Volkswagen mapped out a sweeping strategy overhaul focused on electric cars, automated driving and services such as ride-hailing in an effort to emerge from the diesel-cheating scandal that’s weighed on the company for months.
Fiat is considering producing an electric city car for the European market, which would be the first electric model sold in the region, said the executive, who turned 64 Friday. Fiat currently sells an electric version of its iconic 500 subcompact only in its North American market. Marchionne said in 2014 that the carmaker was losing at least $10,000 on every 500e it sells to comply with California emission rules.
More Hybrid
Marchionne also said the carmaker will introduce more hybrid vehicles, including the Maserati Levante sport-utility vehicles. He expects carmakers to offer hybrid versions on most models to meet emission targets by 2021.
Maserati, which showed an Alfieri prototype at the Geneva car show in 2014, doesn’t plan to introduce a full electric version of the model before the end of the company’s five year plan which ends in 2018. Marchionne said the electric Alfieri isn’t scheduled until after he retires as CEO of Fiat Chrysler in 2019.
"I’m not as convinced as some others are about the fact that electrification is the solution for all of man’s ills," said Marchionne. "We need to experiment as we are doing now with connected cars and mobility as electrification is one of the potential answers.