The proposed merger between Fiat and Chrysler won’t be realized in 2012, as Sergio Marchionne spoke at the British annual CBI (Confederation of British Industry) conference. The CEO of Fiat and Chrysler said that “Fiat and Chrysler will sell 4.2 million units this year“ and this figure will continue to rise by 2014, by the time Fiat and Chrysler may have been merged, to 6 million units. During the conference Marchionne also evidenced once again the importance of competing on the global markets, as marginal players are likely to get eliminated by the bigger car makers.

Having turned around Fiat and currently owning just over 53% of the Chrysler Group, expanding into new global markets seems fundamental to survive. Jack Cheng CEO of  Guangzhou Automobile Group with whom Fiat has a joint venture, commented that the launch of the Alfa Romeo brand is forecasted somewhere in 2012. Although details are not yet clear, this would be earlier than the US introduction of the brand in 2013. Fiat aims to sell in China only Alfa Romeo’s made in the Italian ‘peninsula’, but this eventually depends on the succes of it. Local production in Guangzhou is not rulled out if the lack of Italian stylishness in Asia will be catched on.