Stellantis Kicks Off Production Of GSE “Firefly” Turbo Engines In Betim:

Stellantis Kicks Off Production Of GSE “Firefly” Turbo Engines In Betim:​

Betim Is Now Largest Powertrain Production Plant In Latin America...​

This past week, Stellantis kicked off production of its Global Small Engine (GSE) turbo engine family at the company’s newest production plant located at the Fiat Automotive Complex in Betim, Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. The production launch was celebrated with Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, Head of the Americas, Mike Manley, and Antonio Filosa, Stellantis’ COO … (read full article...)

Stellantis Kicks Off Production Of GSE "Firefly" Turbo Engines In Betim:

This past week, Stellantis kicked off production of its Global Small Engine (GSE) turbo engine family at the company's newest production plant located at the Fiat Automotive Complex in Betim, Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. The production launch was celebrated with Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares...

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[bill burke]

It seems Stellantis has established a foothold in the South American region that points to a leadership position in that market. I believe that in addition to Brazil, Argentina and Chile are both areas for aggressive expansion as both have the demographics to support the design, engineering, manufacturing and purchasing of quality product, in a wide range of application and pricing to support further growth. Local product can build that market rapidly.
It is satisfying to see the level of expertise being demonstrated in Brazil and I believe the potential to establish a domestic presence and sense of inclusion in a South American business model is clearly achievable and both nations sited here are vibrant South American nations ripe for development and expansion of that business model by Stellantis.

 

[patfromigh]

Fiat and PSA were in bed together before in South America. They had a joint venture in Argentina which eventually broke up. It is common to see Peugeots and Citroens in major cities in Latin America. Fiat, of course, has a major stronghold in Brazil, but the brand has less dominance in the other Latin American countries. Ram trucks are popular in some places with their rebadged Fiat products. Much depends on the fondness or dislike held in the collective memories of consumers for each particular market.

What is little known up here is that Ford bought Willys in South America. They were selling rebadged Jeep models for awhile. Now Ford is shutting down manufacturing operations in Argentina.

 

[bill burke]

Fiat and PSA were in bed together before in South America. They had a joint venture in Argentina which eventually broke up. It is common to see Peugeots and Citroens in major cities in Latin America. Fiat, of course, has a major stronghold in Brazil, but the brand has less dominance in the other Latin American countries. Ram trucks are popular in some places with their rebadged Fiat products. Much depends on the fondness or dislike held in the collective memories of consumers for each particular market.

What is little known up here is that Ford bought Willys in South America. They were selling rebadged Jeep models for awhile. Now Ford is shutting down manufacturing operations in Argentina.

Ford is in retreat and circling the wagons thinking currently and should not be our benchmark. Start small, parts perhaps first, augment something built out in Brazil next, but the course is clear and open, the opportunity to capitalize on getting it right and winning hearts and minds is clear. Argentina, to me, with it’s overwhelming European population is a great venture not to be dismissed. Stellantis has a foothold, time to take the whole leg.

 

[patfromigh]

I was suggesting Ford of Argentina provides an example of what NOT to do. Right now is the second chance for a combined Fiat-PSA effort in Argentina. The Dodge brand is also remembered fondly in that country as well. Calling the trucks Rams isn't a detriment because it is a cultural thing to think symbolically. Just look how Mexico City names their transit stations and the use of icons with the printed names.

Fiat is strong in Brazil and now Jeep is rapidly gaining ground there. PSA products seem to have strength in Argentina, but the needed product updates arrived only recently.

 

[Bili]

There is the only one market which is worthy for exploit. It's Brazil. All other should be served with Brazilian products.

And it's important to learn something about free trade agreements. Who has them and with whom.

 

[bill burke]

There is the only one market which is worthy for exploit. It's Brazil. All other should be served with Brazilian products.

And it's important to learn something about free trade agreements. Who has them and with whom.

Looks like everyone here agrees to one degree or another. Indeed Brazil is the center for all things South America, but to enhance local participation in this expansion agenda, buying into the product, taking part in the process as well, is a requirement that means business linkages and jobs. My family members who vacationed in Argentina were captivated by the people, the level of sophistication generally and the still underperforming economy ready to break out and move into more of a leadership role globally. Just a vacationers snapshot, true, but I share their enthusiastic impression. Holding Stellantis stock also drives my investment mentality about untapped profits awaiting in South America. Take the leg.

 

[patfromigh]

Let me correct myself. It is Ford in Brazil which is closing production facilities, not Argentina. I had to look up some history. Willys marketed Jeeps after WW2 and started to offer various Jeep models on the global market. Local manufacturing was established in different countries, and sometimes Jeep designs were manufactured under license. Kaiser bought Willys in the 1953. After the buyout, production of Willys and Kaiser vehicles continued in both in Brazil and Argentina. Henry J. Kaiser died in 1967. As his health was declining, Kaiser management decided to exit the automobile business. Ford bought Willys de Brazil and Renault purchased IKA (translated Kaiser Industries Automotive). This happened in 1967, Kaiser then sold Jeep to AMC in 1970.

Ford has had problems in Brazil, pushing them into merging operations with VW for a time. It has been mostly downhill for them this past decade.

I don't know how successful the legacy PSA operations in South America are presently. If Brazil can economically provide engines for Peugeot and Citroen in Argentina, then they should. Mini is phasing out IC engines, so they won't be using the PSA ones anymore. Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, and Dodge all have history across Latin America. Today all these brands are under the Stellantis umbrella. (None of the brands have an image problem like Ford does in Argentina, having been in bed with a murderous junta.) Even the most mundane vehicles of the past Stellantis brands have good reputations down there.