Automotive News Europe - March 2, 2009 - 27

March 2, 2009 www.autonewseurope.com · PAGE 27 Chrysler reveals names of next Alfa models Milano entry-premium car is due in Europe by 2010 while the Giulia is set for 2011 debut Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe TURIN Alfa Romeo’s next two cars will be called the Milano and Giulia. Surprisingly, the news did not come from Alfa or its parent Fiat group. Instead, Chrysler, Fiat’s new alliance partner, revealed the names in its submission to the US Treasury for government bailout money. Chrysler included two Alfa cars that it could build in the US when it presented its latest restructuring plan for long-term viability on February 17. The first Alfa model will be called Milano. The Milano will replace the 147 entry-premium car. The new car is due in Europe in spring 2010 and code-named project 940. Milano is the Italian name for Milan, the city where Alfa was established in 1910. The name was used in the 1980s for the US version of the European Alfa 75 medium-premium model. The second model will be called Giulia. It is due in Europe in late 2011 and is code-named project 953. The Giulia will replace the 159 medium-premium sedan and station wagon models. Giulia is Italian for the women’s first name Julie and was used by Alfa for a range of successful sedans and coupes produced in the 1960s. In January, Fiat said it planned to take a 35 percent stake in Chrysler. Fiat will use its partnership with Chrysler to gain access to Chrysler’s US production and dealer network ANE for Fiat and Alfa cars. Alfa Romeo has used the Giulia (inset) and Milano names on previous models. Slow sales at Jaguar and Land Rover have forced JLR to lay off workers. Ailing JLR nears new deal with workers John Revill Automotive News Europe Embattled Jaguar Land Rover is close to an agreement with its workers regarding cost-cutting measures. The British carmaker, which Ford Motor sold last summer to Tata Motors for $2.3 billion (¤3 billion at the time), needs to reduce costs after a steep fall in its unit sales. JLR’s global sales fell 12 percent to 251,590 in 2008. JLR spokesman Don Hume said: “After several constructive discussions with unions, we have reached agreement on a set of proposals that will now be put to union members.” Hume declined to reveal what the proposals were, but said they were intended to reduce costs in the business and avoid the need for further compulsory job losses. Shrinking staff JLR laid off 500 manufacturing workers at the end of January and will cut 150 temporary workers at the end of April. About 850 temporary workers were sent home in December. JLR is currently asking 300 managerial staff to leave voluntarily. Union bosses are asking JLR’s 12,000 workers to accept the costcutting deal. Dave Osborne, an official with the UK’s Unite trade union, said he hoped workers would vote to accept the deal on the basis that it is a temporary agreement for a twoyear period. Crisis management “We are in a crisis here, through no fault of our own,” Osborne said. “The work force has been a huge asset to the company in the past, and will continue to be so in the future. We are pleased that we have been able to reach this agreement.” Tata Motors lost 2.63 billion rupees (¤44 million) in the last quarter of 2008, as cost-cutting efforts failed to make up for lower demand, high commodities prices and foreign exchange losses. The company does not break out Jaguar Land Rover finanANE cial results.

http://www.autonewseurope.com

Automotive News Europe - March 2, 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Europe - March 2, 2009