{"id":93921,"date":"2015-05-13T16:40:04","date_gmt":"2015-05-13T20:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=93921"},"modified":"2015-05-13T16:40:06","modified_gmt":"2015-05-13T20:40:06","slug":"marchionne-talks-to-tesla-apple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2015\/05\/marchionne-talks-to-tesla-apple\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchionne Talks to Tesla, Apple"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Sergio Marchionne's repeated calls for industry consolidation led him to some unusual potential bedfellows: Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Desperate times call for desperate measures the saying goes and Fiat Chrysler Chief Sergio Marchionne may feel like that\u2019s where he\u2019s at when it comes to his continuous calls for industry consolidation.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been rebuffed by at least one automaker, but undeterred he did find a couple of CEOs who were willing to meet with him: Tesla\u2019s Elon Musk and Apple\u2019s Tim Cook. Marchionne, who\u2019s been told thanks but no thanks by General Motors and Ford, confirmed he met with both Musk and Cook last weekend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Subscribe Now!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To paraphrase a famous song lyric: If you can\u2019t meet with the one you love, love the one you meet with. So far, Marchionne seems pretty taken with Musk.<\/p>\n

“I’m incredibly impressed with what that kid has done,” he said, referring to Musk, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n

With regard to Apple’s Cook, he said: “He’s interested in Apple’s intervention in the car, that’s his role.” Marchionne was not more specific about Apple.<\/p>\n

While a partnership between FCA and either company would seem to be unlikely, it shows Marchionne\u2019s determination to explore any possible partner that could lend value and expertise to help cut costs.<\/p>\n

If FCA is ever to be a player in the EV market, Tesla may seem like the ideal company to hook up with. However, research shows that if Marchionne can use a little vision, he might want to make sure he\u2019s got Cook on speed dial.<\/p>\n

Morpace, a Detroit-area market research firm shows that while Tesla is considered the cream of the crop for those considering an EV purchase, Apple\u2019s potential entry into the auto industry has folks waiting with bated breath.<\/p>\n

(Marchionne screams for industry consolidation. For more, <\/em><\/strong>Click Here<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The company reports that consumers who own hybrid or electric vehicles have a high level of trust and interest in an electric vehicle that Apple plans to manufacture by 2020. Morpace surveyed more than 250 U.S. based electric and\/or hybrid vehicle owners to gauge consumer interest in Apple’s electric vehicle.<\/p>\n

(<\/em><\/strong>Click Here<\/a><\/span><\/strong> for details about the possibility of FCA looking for a merger partner.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What they found is that \u201cthe Apple brand in high esteem.\u201d More than three quarters of the consumers would be “somewhat likely,” “very likely” or “extremely likely” to purchase an Apple electric vehicle.<\/p>\n

Among the other notable highlights of the survey:<\/p>\n