Merged Fiat could produce 6 million auto annually says CEO

Automaker meetings soon moving to Netherlands from Turin

(ANSA) - Turin, March 31 - Fiat's new production plans will see a combined output of up to six million autos per year by 2018, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said Monday. "With the initiatives we will announce in May, six million is achievable", he told a shareholder's meeting in the northern industrial city of Turin. Fiat and Chrysler, which delivered a combined total of 4.4 million cars last year, will unveil a new multiyear business plan in May.

He also said that Fiat will hold just one more major meeting in the company's traditional headquarters in Turin. After that, it will move important meetings to the merged automaker's new registered headquarters in The Netherlands, he said. Iconic automaker Fiat announced in early January that it had gained full control of the American automaker Chrysler after years of planning. The $4.35 billion deal will allow the new Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to become the world's seventh-larged automaker. However, the new FCA - as the merged entity is now known - will have its tax base in the UK, most likely London, while its registered office is in The Netherlands.

Fiat was born more than 100 years ago in the northern industrial city of Fiat and its current management has assured Italian politicians, unions and its employees that the corporate changes will not affect operations in Italy.

The newly merged automaker will be making use of Chrysler's strong earnings in its home market of the United States, but the company has also pledged to pay more attention to its luxury brands, such as Maserati. "We have some good news this year," Fiat Chairman John Elkann told the annual general meeting. "2013 has been full of success for Fiat," he said. "The losses in Europe were reduced and premium brand development is giving positive results," he added.