Having just received a multibillion-dollar bailout, Chrysler announced it will have a partnership with the Italian carmaker Fiat.  Within hours of rumors hitting the media about the deal, Chrysler officially released a statement with an explanation of the pact.  Fiat has agreed to share the platforms of its small cars and its fuel-efficient engines, which are extremely popular in Europe, in exchange for a 35% stake in the American carmaker.  Cash is not going to exchange hands; it’s just that Fiat will have a stake in Chrysler.

This plan will mean that Fiat products will be built in the United States and Dodge and Chrysler products.  There probably aren’t any Jeep-like vehicles in Fiat’s portfolio.

Many questions about the deal are left unanswered.  For one, it doesn’t appear that Fiat is getting much in return for contributing to Chrysler.  In recent years past, Fiat has considered bringing back the Alfa Romeo brand to the United States, but its main concern was distribution.  The statement that Chrysler put out mentions distribution extremely vaguely.  Maybe when the economy gets back on track the beautiful slate of modern Alfas will be on sale in America.  That would give Chrysler a truly luxury car brand to sell.

All carmakers, especially Chrysler, have suffered a hard blow with the poor economy.  People have resolved themselves to holding onto their current cars and purchasing used car warranties, instead of buying new.  Hopefully, though, with all of the new exciting cars coming on the market, people will be tempted to start buying new cars soon.