Sergio's Nationalistic Bluster doesn't impress me

"Alfa Romeo is not for sale," said Sergio Marchionne this week, batting down repeated rumors and rumblings about VW buying the brand from FIAT, which continues to face financial woes.  Any reader of this site knows that I believe strongly that Alfa would be better off in the brand portfolio of the German giant than in the hands of incompetent Italian management.

My heart of course likes the idea of "keeping the brand Italian." But the historical record has shown that in every industry in Italy, foreign management has saved Italian brands from their own ineptitude. FIAT is one of the last major Italian companies that isn't a subsidiary of a foreign corporation.

But Sergio, in the sort of blatant rhetorical posturing one would expect from a politician rather than a captain of industry declared that "Counting on foreigners to act as Italy's saviors is the greatest idiocy I have heard in my life." Was it idiocy in World War Two when the allies liberated your country from its own self-inflicted tyrrany?  And when Nestle and other major brands bought up all of your food and beverage brands and offered them to the world market, was that idiocy?

The only idiocy I observe here is the willfull ignorance of fact that all of the new Lancias are re-badged American cars, and Sergio's plans for the new Alfa roadster are based on a Mazda platform!  So let's cut this nationalistic bullshit and call a spade a spade.  This isn't about Italy. This isn't about national pride. It's about your ego and the self-delusional force-field you wear on a daily basis.Sergio receives a shoulder rub and advice on political posturing from il maestro.What Sergio did to Lancia is not only unforgiveable, it is concrete evidence that he doesn't mean a word of what he says.  Sergio, the sooner you realize that your false patriotism is killing what's left of Italy's noble car brands, the better off those brands will be. 

via jalopnik

Comments

[Alex B.]

This is unfortunate...

[F1 Tommy]

Well atleast I can go visit the factory without leaving North America:)

The FWD part is not suprising since the 164, 155, 156, 166 and 159 all had FWD also. It does look good. I wonder how they came up with these drawings. Did someone do them from memory after seeing the car in Las Vegas?

http://www.autoedizione.com/production-alfa-romeo-giulia-starts-in-illinois/

[Noah Vale]

Your points are well taken. Lancia and ALFA Romeo should be saved in forms that are worth saving. There are very few marques with their great histories.

[F1 Tommy]

Will the Panzers:) be rolling into Italy to take Alfa Romeo soon?? I think not.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120927/OEM02/309279644/marchionne-invites-vw-brass-to-dawn-showdown-as-feud-grows