Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne assured Italy's industry minister at their first face-to-face meeting that the country's largest employer will not cut jobs in its home market.Newly-appointed minister Flavio Zanonato had recently asked Fiat to stay in Italy after its planned merger with Chrysler next year. Italian unions fear the merger will herald a move of the group's headquarters to the United States.
Fiat and Zanonato said they will work together to relaunch Italy's recession-hit car market and stressed the importance of the group's Italian manufacturing base as part of Fiat's brand image.
Zanonato met with Marchionne and Fiat Chairman John Elkann on Friday, both of whom gave assurances Fiat intends to maintain employment even as Italy's car market shrinks to levels last seen in the 1970s.
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