Chrysler 2005 Annual Report Download - page 9

8Reporton Operations The Fiat Group
01 Report on Operations
The Fiat Group
The Fiat Group performs automotive manufacturing and financial
service activities in approximately 190 countries.
Below is a description of how the Group is currently structured, as
a result of its refocusing on the automotive business started in 2003
and continued in 2004. In 2005, reporting of Group activities was
redefined by Business Areas as follows:
Automobiles
Fiat Auto produces and sells automobiles under the Fiat, Alfa Romeo
and Lancia brands and light commercial vehicles under the Fiat brand.
It provides financing services to its dealers and suppliers and rental
services to its customers.
The Sector is represented by Fiat Auto S.p.A. and its subsidiaries.
The Fiat Group also controls Maserati and Ferrari.They produce
luxurysports carsthat excel for their exclusive characteristics,
technology and performance. Following transfer of the ownership
of Maserati from Ferrari to Fiat Partecipazioni S.p.A., as of April 2005
the two companies are represented separately.
Fiat Powertrain Technologies is the new Sector which groups all
passenger car engine and transmission activities. Fiat regained control
over these activities in May 2005 following termination of the Master
Agreement with General Motors. Starting in 2006, the Sector will
also include the engine and transmission operations of Iveco, Centro
Ricerche Fiat and Elasis.
Agricultural and Construction Equipment
CNH operates in the field of tractors and agricultural equipment
through the Case IH and New Holland brands and in the
construction equipment business through the Case and New
Holland brands. Its financial services provide support to its
end customers and dealers.
Commercial Vehicles
Iveco designs, produces and sells a complete line of commercial
vehicles under the Iveco brand, buses under the Irisbus brand,
and fire-fighting and special purpose vehicles under the Iveco, Astra
and Magirus brands. In addition, Iveco provides financing services
to its dealer network and rental services to customers.
Components and Production Systems
Magneti Marelli produces components for lighting systems, exhaust
systems, suspensions and shock absorbers, engine control units,
and electronic systems.
Teksid supplies engine blocks, cylinder heads and other cast-iron
components for engines; cast-iron components for transmissions,
gearboxes and suspensions; and magnesium bodywork components.
Comau produces industrial automation systems for the automotive
industry in the areas of product and process engineering, logistics
and management, manufacturing, installation, production start-up
and maintenance.
Other Businesses
This area includes the Services Sector and the Publishing and
Communications Sector, engaged in the following businesses:
Services in the areas of personnel administration and
administrative and corporate finance consulting, mainly provided
to Group companies.
Publication of the La Stampa daily newspaper, and sale of
advertising space for multimedia customers through Publikompass.
Other Businesses also include Holding companies and Other
companies, among which Banca Unione di Credito, agroup
performing banking activities in Switzerland.