It 's just been awarded in Paris as the most beautiful European car was born in 2013. But for the Alfa Romeo 4C, the two-seater to 60 million Euros last jewel of the Italian group FiatChrysler, now comes another good news: 2014 will be increased production and, from 2015, if demand remains high, it may share exceed 5,000 pieces a year sailing towards doubling compared to the initial estimates.
If the new production targets are still unofficial, on the other hand are some positive effects on the success of 4C. In Modena, Maserati in the establishment where the last Alfa is assembled together with the coupé of the Trident, in the coming weeks will be added over 100 new jobs to the existing 600. Places at the time intended for laid off as many of the Fiat group retrieved from the factories of Mirafiori, Cassino and Melfi for individual periods of six months.It 'the first time in the history of the legendary Emilia factory that is set up a second round.
As expected from an agreement signed with the unions Modena, the shifts will only cover workers at Alfa even if the reorganization of the factory Emilian result in a slight increase in rate of production of the Maserati will increase from 18 to 19 pieces per day. The production of the 4C, however, expected to increase to about twenty cars a day, a hundred or so a week. The precise numbers are reserved for two reasons. The first is technical: the new organization of work provides a schedule of seven and a half hours per shift (to which you will add the half-hour lunch break), while today the single shift Maserati is 8 hours, so you expect a phase adjustment.
The second reason is more complex: Fiat Chrysler has explicitly pointed out to the unions want to maintain a profile of extreme caution on 4C. "The Alfa Romeo brand is then in a very delicate and if you want to understand the excellent response of the global market last - Uilm Manfredini says William of Modena - The use of non-local labor for now it's good because we give a hand to workers laid off. In a few months, hoping they'll make the point more jobs still "temporary" become stable. "
To read between the lines the prudence of the leaders of the Maserati factory in Modena can be glimpsed complex issues. Has not yet been officially choice, for example, the commercial network that will distribute the 4C in America. In the past, there was talk of seventy assign its sales to U.S. dealers of the Maserati that now collect up to 1,500 orders per month for Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans. But even the 210 American dealers for Fiat, or at least the most brilliant among them, would bear the Alfa Romeo brand and a coupe that already makes one dream Americans wealthy driving enthusiasts.
The question remained suspended pending that would cut the finish the purchase of 100% of Chrysler by Fiat. And the marketing Alfa is left without precise directions to complete the dossier of the landing of the 4C in America in the context of the return of Alfa Romeo saloons in the U.S. market planned for 2015-2016 but still unspecified date. So far, according to the "old" official documents, in the 4C scheme were to be distributed as follows: 1,500 pieces per year in Europe, Arabian Gulf and Africa, North America and 1,200 to 800 to the rest of the world.
But now it is possible that the equilibrium distribution also change because it exceeded the technical barrier that prevented so far to assume a greater production: the limited availability of carbon shells. As is known the 4C weighs very little (less than 850 pounds) also because its frame is entirely made of carbon fiber. A highly advanced material but "difficult" to assemble. The Alfa has been able to establish the second round of the 4C because the manufacturer of the chassis, the Adler group that works to Airola, a small town in the province of Benevento, has managed to industrialize a process of work that until a few months ago it was crafted and done by hand.
"It 's true - confirms Paul Squires, owner of Adler - Less than a year ago we opened the factory with 150 employees. After the running-in phase could produce only 7 shells per day. Then, thanks to the funds of the Campania Region and the collaboration of the British AmberComposite, we found the system to increase production by meeting the strong demand for 4C. We are hiring 80 other persons, also, for the most part, laid off bells of the Fiat group. "But the 80 new recruits of Airola are temporary or permanent?
"They fixed seats - answers Squires - Also because if they already provide fiber components to Ferrari and Maserati also think that in the future we will increase the level of collaboration with Alfa. But I can not say more. " Clear reference to the production of new models of Alfa Romeo Italian Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of the newly formed Chrysler Fiat Automobiles, is expected to announce in May. A project in which the Adler, a group unknown to the public but you can count on fewer than 58 factories around the world, is already working. Clear signal to alfisti: "after 4C" has already begun.
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