Report: Fiat to dump Bertone brand if purchase goes forward

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009...2:48 pm

Report: Fiat to dump Bertone brand if purchase goes forward

The past year has been unkind to coachbuilding and contract manufacturing firms as the wealthy rein in their more extravagant purchases and carmakers bring their production back in-house. Carrozzeria Bertone, the manufacturing arm of the Bertone Group, is feeling the pinch of bankruptcy in Italy, and soon it may be called Bertone no more.

Fiat announced plans to submit a bid to buy the company over a week ago, and a report has emerged from Autocar that claims Fiat has plans to use the Grugliasco factory and its workforce while dumping the Bertone brand name.

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