Sergio Marchionne in Talks with Non-Car Companies for Collaboration

As the auto industry shifts much of its focus to technology, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne is looking in new places for possible collaborations. However, what that collaboration will be has yet to be revealed.

Google and Apple are just two giants that have dipped their toes into the automotive spectrum with self-driving technology. With vehicles relying more heavily on computers, new business opportunities are presenting themselves, and rivalries will no doubt pop up when tech companies start aligning themselves with specific automakers.

“We have parallel conversations with many players who are outside the auto sector at the moment,” Marchionne said at a press conference, reports Reuters.

While FCA may have strong footholds in the North American and Latin American markets, it’s weak in China. Any partnership moving forward would have to boast a strong presence in that market, Marchionne said.

The move to partner with companies outside the auto sector seems like a departure from the past, when FCA reportedly courted General Motors for a possible merger. We also hear Marchionne is currently discussing a production partnership to build its small cars. It wants to contract out the building of the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart to someone else as the company focuses on producing larger vehicles.

Source: Reuters

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