Fiat, Italian gov't strive to avoid plant closures

The Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler and Fiat, Sergio Marchionne, has met Italian Premier Mario Monti in Rome to discuss the company's future.

Their meeting comes amid increasing fears about possible plant closures in Italy. Afterwards, Fiat and the government said they will strive to avoid that. During the meeting, Fiat workers protested outside the office of the Italian Prime Minister, defending their right to work.

Fiat S.p.A., (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) is an automobile manufacturer based in Turin, Italy, has also manufactured railway engines and carriages, military vehicles, and aircraft. As of 2009, the Fiat group (not inclusive of its subsidiary Chrysler) was the world's ninth largest carmaker and the largest in Italy.

Sales in Italy, Fiat's main market in Europe, dropped by 20 percent in the first six months of 2012. Fiat has said it would provide details about future investment when it presents its third quarter earnings next month.