Indonesia

Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler move step closer to possible merger

Agence France-Presse

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler move step closer to possible merger

AFP

(3rd UPDATE) If Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot merge, they would form the world's 4th largest automaker in terms of sales

MILAN, Italy (3rd UPDATE) – Fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, moved a step closer Wednesday, October 30, to creating a new global auto giant as the industry battles ever fiercer competition and the costly shift from traditional to electric cars.

A source familiar with the matter told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the board of PSA had approved the proposed multibillion tie-up with Italian-US Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in a move that could create the world’s 4th largest automaker.

The deal still needs to be given the green light by FCA’s board, but the two sides could formally announce that they are in exclusive talks on Thursday, October 31, the source said.

Earlier, both sides had said “there are ongoing discussions aimed at creating one of the world’s leading mobility groups,” but neither had offered any additional details.

A person with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Tuesday, October 29, that a merger – which is not guaranteed – would create a firm valued at about $50 billion (45 billion euros).

The merger plans come on the heels of a failed attempt earlier this year to combine Fiat Chrysler with Renault.

A combined FCA-PSA would produce the scale needed in an industry facing slowing demand, with 8.7 million vehicles sold per year and 184 billion euros in annual sales. 

The board of the combined group would consist of 6 PSA members and 5 FCA members, a source close to the talks said.

Auto manufacturing globally – which accounts for 5.7% of global gross domestic product and 8% of goods trade – shrank by 1.7% last year by volume of vehicles produced, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Size matters

If the deal goes through, PSA could gain access to the lucrative US market while fulfilling the long-held goal of late ex-FCA head Sergio Marchionne for a merger to survive escalating costs and competition.

The tie-up would make the new automaker the 4th largest in terms of sales behind Volkswagen, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, and Toyota, and would combine a host of well-known brands from Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and Dodge to Citroen, Opel, and Peugeot.

Investors cheered the news. FCA shares in Milan closed up 9% on Wednesday while PSA shares added 4% in Paris.

“We’re in a period where gray skies are gathering over the auto industry. When business is harder, competition is stronger and margins get thinner,” said Flavien Neuvy, director of the Cetelem Observatory, a research unit of BNP Paribas. 

To offset the billions required to invest in advanced technologies, size is critical, Neuvy added.

Talks to merge FCA with Renault broke down in June, scuppered in part by resistance from the French government, which owns a stake in Renault – as it does PSA.

Analyst Michael Hewson at CMC Markets UK cautioned that political pressure from Paris could again be an obstacle, given France’s approximately 12% stake in PSA.

“It is hard not to see that this attempt by Fiat might well go the same way as the failed Renault attempt earlier this year,” Hewson said in a note. “Business and government always make uncomfortable bedfellows.”

France’s economy ministry said in a statement that the state would be “particularly vigilant” about jobs, corporate governance, and preserving the industrial footprint when assessing any merger.

Italian vice economy minister Antonio Misiani said it was “vital to preserve [existing] sites in Italy.”

Under the FCA-PSA merger, Carlos Tavares, the chief executive of Peugeot’s parent, Groupe PSA, would lead the company as CEO while John Elkann, chairman of FCA, would be chairman, one source said.

Consolidation

A new company would bring under one roof Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall.

FCA is weaker in Europe than PSA, with its French and German mass market brands. The company also lags in bringing electric cars to market and investing in new forms of mobility.

PSA meanwhile is absent from the massive US market, where FCA sells the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram brands.

China’s Dongfeng holds a 14% stake in PSA, which could be an asset as a larger PSA-FCA tries to take a share in the world’s largest single car market.

“Both FCA and PSA need an alliance,” Marco Bentivogli, head of the Italian trade union Fim-Cisl, said late on Tuesday when reports of the merger talks first began to circulate.

Patrick Michel, head of the FO trade union at PSA, expressed skepticism but said the deal could give PSA “greater heft vis-à-vis giants such as Toyota or Volkswagen,” plus access to advanced technologies lacking at Fiat.

PSA posted revenues of 74 billion euros ($82 billion) in 2018 compared to FCA’s 110 billion euros. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!