When General Motors ultimately rebuffs FCA's attempts to put a ring on it, Toyota or Ford could be the one true love, right? Not so fast.
Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz told those attending a groundbreaking ceremony at the Toyota Technical Center in York Township, Mich. his employer had not been contacted by FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne about consolidation between the two, The Detroit News reports.
Had the suggestion been made, however, Lentz says it wouldn't happen, as there would be "no advantage" for Toyota to consider such a move, citing Ford's decision to avoid bankruptcy by selling off brands like Volvo and Land Rover to focus on a simpler portfolio:
To me, a large OEM today taking on Chrysler is contrary to what was very successful for Ford. FCA has a very strong Jeep brand, and especially today with fuel prices, it's a great brand to have… but it really isn't a fit for what we need at Toyota.
Speaking of Ford, CFO Bob Shanks said consolidation could occur at the supplier level, as well as partnerships with other automakers to share powertrain and transmission technology. As for Ford marrying FCA, however:
We're not a suitor for FCA. We don't see that type of opportunity as one that applies to us.
We have a lot of experience with mergers… We're not babes in the woods. Based on that experience, for us that doesn't seem to be where we'd want to go. We want to have a more forward-looking perspective in terms of what's happening in the industry… It doesn't seem to be that it would be doubling down on the past.
Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer had some encouraging news for Marchionne, stating FCA would its true love eventually, just not among the larger automakers, whom Brauer believes already have enough on their minds as it is without seeing a Ram 1500 in the parking lot blasting "Every Breath You Take" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" from its custom bed with embedded nine-speaker audio system:
Poor Sergio; always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
[Photo credit: Toyota]
The post Toyota, Ford Show No Interest In Heading Down The Aisle With FCA appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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