MILAN (AP) -- Italy's development minister says the government was reassured by a meeting between Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi asked for the meeting after Marchionne was quoted as saying that if Fiat one day merged with Chrysler, which it controls, the headquarters could be in the U.S.
Marchionne has been under increasing political pressure in Italy as he seeks to set up new contracts at each Fiat plant in exchange for investments and new models -- moves opposed by one union. He plans to invest $20 billion in Italian plants to double production in Italy by 2014.
Development Minister Paolo Romani said Saturday that the Italian government was "reassured" by the meeting, and understood that Fiat was a multinational with multiple poles.
Berlusconi asked for the meeting after Marchionne was quoted as saying that if Fiat one day merged with Chrysler, which it controls, the headquarters could be in the U.S.
Marchionne has been under increasing political pressure in Italy as he seeks to set up new contracts at each Fiat plant in exchange for investments and new models -- moves opposed by one union. He plans to invest $20 billion in Italian plants to double production in Italy by 2014.
Development Minister Paolo Romani said Saturday that the Italian government was "reassured" by the meeting, and understood that Fiat was a multinational with multiple poles.
