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Mopar boss promoted at FCA, still runs Mopar

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is appointing Pietro Gorlier as its new chief operating officer for components. The change in title is effective June 30 and means that he reports directly to Sergio Marchionne. He already runs Mopar globally. Gorlier is replacing Eugenio Razelli, who is leaving the automaker. Even with the new position, Gorlier continues to be the boss at Mopar and retains his seat on FCA's global executive council, which is the company's top decision-making group. This is essentially one more step up the ladder for the Turin-born executive. Gorlier became CEO of Mopar service, parts, and customer care for FCA US in 2009 and took over that role worldwide in 2011. FCA announces new appointment Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU / MI: FCA) announced today that effective June 30, 2015, Pietro Gorlier is appointed Chief Operating Officer Components reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne. Mr. Gorlier will also retain his current responsibilities as Head of Parts & Service (MOPAR) and member of the Group Executive Council. Mr. Gorlier will succeed Eugenio Razelli, who elected to leave the Group after several years of dedicated service. "We extend our sincere appreciation to Eugenio for his leadership and contribution to the organization" said Sergio Marchionne. Pietro Gorlier is Head of Parts & Service (MOPAR) and a member of the Group Executive Council (GEC) since September 1, 2011. He joined the Group in 1989 in Iveco and held various positions in Logistics, After Sales, and Customer Care before joining the automobile business in 2006 in Network Development. He holds a Master of Economics from the University of Turin. London, 18 May 2015 Related Video: News Source: FCA Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Chrysler Fiat FCA fiat chrysler automobiles fca us

Ferrari IPO could come any day now

According to Bloomberg, Fiat Chrysler Automotive Sergio Marchionne told reporters at the Toronto Global Forum that the Ferrari IPO could come any day now. "We are days away from filing the prospectus," said Marchionne, who declined to confirm whether rumors of involvement from UBS Group AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Goldman Sachs Group were accurate. In addition to an expected filing in New York, Marchionne hinted that a secondary filing could take place in Milan, Italy. Although the FCA Chief Executive didn't offer any expected sum for Ferrari, he had previously suggested that an IPO for the iconic Italian brand could be worth $1 billion, ringing the registers to the tune of 10 percent of the company's $11 billion valuation. According to Bloomberg, that potential sum is significantly higher than its own internal figures indicate after taking a poll of analysts who we assume must know a heck of a lot more about such things than we do. Considering how close we apparently are to the actual filing, though, we probably won't have to wait long to find out. Another hot topic any time Sergio is the subject of reporter questioning is a potential merger with General Motors or another large, full-line automaker. It seems there aren't any new revelations to reveal on the consolidation front, though Marchionne told reporters there were no plans to mount a hostile takeover of GM or any "other, less optimal" partners. Related Video: News Source: BloombergImage Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Earnings/Financials Chrysler Ferrari Fiat Sergio Marchionne FCA

Bring back the Bronco! Trademarks we hope are actually (someday) future car names

Trademark filings are the tea leaves of the auto industry. Read them carefully – and interpret them correctly – and you might be previewing an automaker's future product plans. Yes, they're routinely filed to maintain the rights to an iconic name. And sometimes they're only for toys and clothing. But not always. Sometimes, the truth is right in front of us. The trademark is required because a company actually wants to use the name on a new car. With that in mind, here's a list of intriguing trademark filings we want to see go from paperwork to production reality. Trademark: Bronco Company: Ford Previous Use: The Bronco was a long-running SUV that lived from 1966-1996. It's one of America's original SUVs and was responsible for the increased popularity of the segment. Still, it's best known as O.J. Simpson's would-be getaway car. We think: The Bronco was an icon. Everyone seems to want a Wrangler-fighter – Ford used to have a good one. Enough time has passed that the O.J. police chase isn't the immediate image conjured by the Bronco anymore. Even if we're doing a wish list in no particular order, the Bronco still finds its way to the top. For now (unfortunately), it's just federal paperwork. Rumors on this one can get especially heated. The official word from a Ford spokesman is: "Companies renew trademark filings to maintain ownership and control of the mark, even if it is not currently used. Ford values the iconic Bronco name and history." Trademarks: Aviator, AV8R Company: Ford Previous Use: The Aviator was one of the shortest-run Lincolns ever, lasting for the 2003-2005 model years. It never found the sales success of the Ford Explorer, with which it shared a platform. We Think: The Aviator name no longer fits with Lincoln's naming nomenclature. Too bad, it's better than any other name Lincoln currently uses, save for its former big brother, the Navigator. Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree, though. Ford has made several customized, aviation themed-Mustangs in the past, including one called the Mustang AV8R in 2008, which had cues from the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It sold for $500,000 at auction, and the glass roof – which is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit – helped Ford popularize the feature. Trademark: EcoBeast Company: Ford Previous Use: None by major carmakers.