FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne's search for a consolidation partner may take him to Silicon Valley if the automakers won't give him the time of day.
While making his pitch for consolidation during Wednesday's Q1 2015 earnings call, Marchionne said dialogue about a possible partnership with Apple or Google if he couldn't pair FCA off with another automaker should be encouraged, Bloomberg reports.
His reasoning?
I've always been intrigued by the notion of having technology disruptors show up in the marketplace and change the paradigm. If they show up and they are truly successful, with their cash piles and know-how, they could fundamentally hurt this industry.
At present, FCA already has an established relationship with Apple, with the tech giant's Internet software and services boss Eddy Cue having a seat on Ferrari's board, and CFO Luca Maestri having several years of experience in the automotive industry, including helming General Motors' relationship with Fiat between 2000 and 2005.
On the other end, Apple is hard at work on an EV, with production set for 2020 unless the execs aren't happy with progress. The company's shareholders also would like Apple to pair-off with Tesla — the most recent urging occurring last month — though CEO Tim Cook only stated that the Californian automaker would use his company's CarPlay connected-vehicle system.
As far as FCA and Apple heading down to the chapel is concerned, no one at the latter offered any comment to Marchionne's proposal. With the company having just purchased Beats for $3 billion last year and divesting itself of in-house production of its physical offerings, a deal between it and any automaker, let alone FCA, isn't likely at this time.
[Photo credit: Christopher Aloi/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0]
The post Marchionne May Marry FCA To Apple, Google If No Automaker Will appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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