Dongfeng Doesn’t Want to Buy Fiat Chrysler Either

It has to be tough to be Fiat Chrysler. Sergio Marchionne, FCA’s chief executive officer, has spent the last couple years looking for a merger, and so far, every company he’s talked to has rejected him. Then, news broke that a potential deal with a Chinese automaker had fallen through, but others might still be interested. Almost immediately, though, some of the largest potential buyers made it clear they’re not interested.

Automotive News reports that Dongfeng joined Geely in announcing it has no intention of buying FCA. When Reuters asked the Chinese automaker whether it was interested in buying all or part of the Italian-controlled automaker, the question was completely dismissed. “We currently have no plans,” said Zhou Mi, a Dongfeng spokesman.

If another Chinese automaker actually does purchase FCA, it would likely be the easiest way to enter the U.S. market. Otherwise, it would have to essentially build its brand from scratch, likely struggling to convince buyers that Chinese vehicles are well-built and safe. Newcomers like Hyundai and Kia have only recently gained mainstream acceptance, and they didn’t have to deal with America’s distrust of Chinese manufacturing.

With Dongfeng now officially out of the running, though, that narrows the list of potential Chinese buyers to only a few. Great Wall, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Guangzhou Automobile Group may still be interested, but at this point, you probably shouldn’t expect a takeover anytime soon.

Poor FCA. Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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