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Ferrari and FCA are officially separated

It's been a long time in the making, but it's officially happened: Ferrari is no longer part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Following the Italian automaker's initial public offering, it has officially split off from its former parent company. As part of the spin-off, FCA's stakeholders will each receive one common share in Ferrari for every ten they hold in Fiat Chrysler. Special voting shares will be distributed in the same proportions to certain shareholders as well. Those shares being distributed will account for 80 percent of the company's ownership. Another ten percent was floated as part of the company's IPO, while the remaining 10 percent is held by Enzo's son Piero Ferrari (pictured above at center), who serves as vice chairman of the company. The shares will continue to be traded under the ticker symbol RACE on the New York Stock Exchange, and will begin trading this week as well under the same symbol on the Mercato Telematico Azionario, part of the Borsa Italiana in Milan. Since the extended Agnelli family headed by chairman John Elkann (above, right) holds the largest stake in FCA, expect it to continue controlling the largest portion of Ferrari shares as well. Between them, nearly half of the shares in the supercar manufacturer – and we suspect a little more than half of the voting rights – will be controlled by the Agnelli and Ferrari families, who are expected to cooperate to ensure the remaining shareholders don't attempt a takeover of the company. Similar to its former parent company, which operates out of Turin and Detroit, the Ferrari NV holding company is nominally incorporated in the Netherlands, but the automaker will continue to base its operations in Maranello, Italy. That's where it's always been headquartered, on the outskirts of Modena. For the time being, Sergio Marchionne (above, left) remains both chairman of Ferrari and chief executive of FCA – a position to which he is not unaccustomed, having previously headed both Fiat and Chrysler before the two officially merged. Related Video: Separation of Ferrari from FCA Completed LONDON, January 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. ("FCA") (NYSE: FCAU / MTA: FCA) and Ferrari N.V. ("Ferrari") (NYSE/MTA: RACE) announced today that the separation of the Ferrari business from the FCA group was completed on January 3, 2016. FCA shareholders are entitled to receive one common share of Ferrari for every 10 FCA common shares held.

Conan releases extended cut of Chrysler's Super Bowl ad

Chrysler's latest Super Bowl ad follows in the footsteps of its classic Imported From Detroit spot starring rapper Eminem and Half-Time in America ad starring Clint Eastwood. Featuring Bob Dylan's gravely voice asking, "Is there anything more American... than America?" the spot has been somewhat controversial, thanks to a few lines informing viewers that Germany can brew beer, Switzerland can make watches and Asia can assemble phones. The US, though, will build your car, Dylan tells us. When the ad aired, Shinola-wearing Detroiters simultaneously spit out their Atwater beer over the perceived slight.
Naturally, that controversy has spawned more than a few parodies, one of which comes from Conan O'Brien. Coco expands on the list of things that aren't made in the US, like French water, Danish cheese and Japanese animated, um, adult films. Beyond those examples, there are a number of other things that should be left to countries that aren't the United States. It's a chuckle-worthy parody, so scroll down and have a look, and compare it to the original Super Bowl ad below that.

Chrysler de Mexico to sell rebadged Mitsubishi model in shades of Colt deal

Chrysler and Mitsubishi have had a close relationship since the early '70s. Back then, they partnered up to sell the Japanese brand's models under American names as captive imports in the US. Vehicles like the Dodge Colt, Eagle Summit, and eventually the 3000GT/Stealth twins and lots of other cars and trucks became the fruits of that alliance. In fact, the two companies still maintain a good rapport, as evidenced by reports of a new deal to sell the Mitsubishi Attrage, also known the Mirage G4, in Mexico starting in November.
The Attrage is a small, four-door sedan that borrows many of the mechanical bits from the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback. According to Automotive News, the deal allows Chrysler to sell the model in Mexico for the next five years. The deal could be a win-win for both companies. Mitsubishi gets to use more capacity at its Laem Chabang, Thailand factory where the car is made, and Chrysler gets a new vehicle for a growing market with almost zero development costs. At this time, there's no indication of the new model's name in Mexico, though.
There's also still a chance the Attrage might make it to the US market as well. The automaker showed off the sedan as the Mirage G4 at the 2014 Montreal Motor Show ahead of promised sales in small-car-friendly Canada. The Mirage hatchback was introduced to the US in a similar way, debuting in Canada first and then crossing the border. While reviews for the Mirage have been pretty atrocious, it would still be interesting to see Mitsubishi further expanding its lineup in North America.