Fiat News: Rumorpile: FCA and Alphabet Inc. Talk Possible Partnership

[William Maley]

Alphabet Inc. - Google's parent company - wants to find automotive partners to use their autonomous technologies. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is looking for partners to help offset costs of development and production. In fact, CEO Sergio Marchionne has hinted that he is open to working with a technology company.

 

Chocolate, meet peanut butter.

 

The Wall Street Journal has learned from a source that Alphabet and FCA are in the late stages of talks about a technology partnership. These talks have been ongoing for a few months explained the source.

 

But why Fiat Chrysler Automobiles? Compared to other automakers, they are way behind in a number of key technology areas. The AutoExtremist, who first reported the rumor, explained FCA has a couple key items that interest Alphabet Inc. First is the upcoming Pacifica minivan which could be developed into a fully autonomous vehicle. The second is that FCA has the manufacturing capability and dealer network, something Alphabet lacks.

 

Source: The AutoExtremist, The Wall Street Journal

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[David]

So could this be the Google EV Self-Driving Auto the reports have been talking about?

[Drew Dowdell]

Careful FCA.... Google has a habit of suddenly canceling projects.