Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - (Page 20) 20 • JULY 7, 2008 A U T O M O T I V E N E W S A L L - S TA R S Fiat CEO Marchionne is Industry Leader of Year Jesse Snyder jsnyder@crain.com When Sergio Marchionne became CEO of Fiat group in June 2004, its automaking division was losing about $3.7 million a day. Fiat Auto’s market share in western Europe was plummeting. Financial analysts speculated about which rival would buy the Italian automaker. Today, Fiat Auto is profitable. Its market share is growing in Europe and elsewhere. Under Marchionne, Fiat has negotiated 30 technical and product-related alliances with other global automakers. That turnaround has made Marchionne Automotive News’ Industry Leader of the Year for 2008. Before the 56-year-old Marchionne took over at Fiat, his only experience in the auto industry consisted of 10 months as a board member of the company. A lawyer, he previously headed an energy company in Switzerland. Marchionne has dual citizenship in Italy and Canada. Marchionne brought to Fiat an outsider’s willingness to shake things up with a jolt of energy. He named young executives to senior positions. Fiat Auto revitalized its product development process, got new vehicles to market faster, appointed more dealers outside Italy and expanded production in lowwage countries. Marchionne also shifted Fiat’s once-insular corporate culture to a global outlook. Fiat has pursued links with other automakers and suppliers worldwide. The deals take the form of technical cooperation, product sharing or contract manufacturing. Fiat’s partners typically provide the bulk of investment capital. These innovations have turned Fiat from a company struggling to maintain its independence into a global player that others approach when they need a strong partner. Marchionne’s leadership is key to Fiat’s change in fortunes. c TOP CEO — ASIA Ratan Tata Chairman, Tata Motors High end, low end Tata is putting India’s burgeoning auto industry on the world map in a big way. Even as his company has bought the Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands from Ford Motor, Tata is preparing to launch the Nano — the so-called $2,500 car that is poised to revolutionize the low-cost global market. CHRIS HELGREN/REUTERS TOP CEO — EUROPE Sergio Marchionne CEO, Fiat Renaissance man Marchionne has presided over the turnaround of an automaker once left for dead. The popular, stylish Fiat 500 small car represents the company at its best. Marchionne has invigorated Fiat’s once-moribund corporate culture, encouraging dozens of joint ventures and alliances that have leveraged Fiat’s technical prowess while preserving capital. PHILIP MEECH TOP U.S. EXECUTIVE — ASIAN AUTOMAKER SALES Jim O’Sullivan CEO, Mazda North American Operations Dick Colliver Executive vice president, American Honda Motor Co. Inc. Looking up TOP U.S. EXECUTIVE — EUROPEAN AUTOMAKER Last laugh Critics have derided the absence of big trucks, V-8 engines and rear-wheel-drive models in Honda’s U.S. lineup. But Colliver has steadily maintained Honda’s emphasis on smaller cars that, in an era of expensive gasoline, looks prescient. His instinct for long-term strategy is vital to Honda’s success. Johan de Nysschen Executive vice president, Audi of America Inc. Brand builder De Nysschen has elevated the Audi brand in the United States through careful selection of product, limits on incentives to maintain residual values and a new dealer margin system aimed at weeding out underperforming stores. Assessments of the luxury brand’s quality have risen dramatically in U.S. consumer surveys. O’Sullivan has steadily guided Mazda in the United States since he took the company’s reins in 2003. His leadership, coupled with appealing new products, has restored dealers’ confidence. Mazda had record U.S. sales in 2007 and even has boosted sales in a grim 2008.
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Turnaround trouble: Mitsubishi back on the skids It's a panic — but don't panic CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED Japan's new diet plan: Slim down, ounce by ounce Amid sale rumors, Volvo has upmarket plans Reynolds sues dealer over computer upgrade Chrysler and dealers to improve Internet marketing strategies Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts Nissan: Despite a truck glut, Titan gets no more incentives American Axle cuts staff; boosts India business, CEO bonus Bosch sees N.A. red ink this year Bill Mitchell's designs blew away the past Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder GM Europe exec: Curbing CO2 is 'around the clock' effort Supplier input varies in Nissan's tech plans Great Wall becomes Chrysler's 2nd Chinese partner Steel prices nudge up Nano's costs Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund Automakers create opportunities for Mexican molders Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs Researchers test capturing CO2 before it leaves the car Some execs win even when their companies lose Tata's personal touch Show me the money Obituaries Study: Dealership service shops extend their hours New Web tool promotes GM service Fiat CEO Marchionne is Industry Leader of Year Jim O'Sullivan Johan de Nysschen Sergio Marchionne Ratan Tata Dick Colliver Fritz Henderson Martin Thall Jim Farley Jack Stavana Roger Penske Walter de' Silva Mike Stanton Tim Manganello David Friedman Jim Hallett Larry Jutte Kim Kosak Ron Gettelfinger Tom Stephens Bob Lutz Tom Shoupe Jay Amestoy June caps a dismal first half Personnel Auto roof rule due by Oct. 1 Mitsubishi dumps 9 ad associations Small-car transaction prices rise in June Turbo taboo may end for BMW M's The mpg fracas: Pick your favorite fairy tale Great news? Analysts shun the Kool-Aid at Chrysler And now, from Wall Street, a short tale of terror VW tells builders: Plan for Southeast plant Dodging a bullet: Half-off deal busts dealer's Ram jam To run the train, should you be an engineer? Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED (Page 1) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED (Page 2) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Amid sale rumors, Volvo has upmarket plans (Page 3) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts (Page 4) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts (Page 5) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder (Page 6) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder (Page 7) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund (Page 8) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund (Page 9) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs (Page 10) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs (Page 11) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 12) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 13) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 14) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 15) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 16) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 17) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18A) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18B) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18C) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18D) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18E) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18F) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18G) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18H) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18I) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18J) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18K) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18L) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - New Web tool promotes GM service (Page 19) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Dick Colliver (Page 20) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Walter de' Silva (Page 21) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Larry Jutte (Page 22) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 23) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 24) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 25) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 26) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 27) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 28) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - June caps a dismal first half (Page 29) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Mitsubishi dumps 9 ad associations (Page 31) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Small-car transaction prices rise in June (Page 32) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Small-car transaction prices rise in June (Page 33) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 34) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 35) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 36)
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