Fiat CEO channels Marchionne's openness to automotive marriage

Just two months after Fiat Chrysler Automobiles left Renault at the altar, its CEO is dropping hints he’s prepared to play the field.

Booming U.S. truck sales are fueling better-than-expected profit, and the Italian-American automaker has the breadth of brands to maintain momentum, CEO Mike Manley told reporters last week. But much like his late predecessor, Sergio Marchionne, the FCA boss doesn’t shy away from deal talk.

“There’s little in the marketplace that is not covered by the portfolio we have, as long as we do the things right that we need to get right,” Manley told reporters on Aug. 1 at Fiat’s U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. “Could we accelerate something with a complimentary additional brand? The answer to that, of course, is 'Yes'.”

While Manley discussed there being prospects for a range of options, from all-out mergers to further collaboration with tech companies, Fiat has no acquisition plans at this time, a spokesman said. Fiat shares fell as much as 0.9 percent in Milan trading Monday while Renault shares rose as much as 2.2 percent in Paris.

Manley faces plenty of challenges, from turning around troubled operations in Europe and China to remaking the money-losing Maserati unit. But just as Marchionne did, he’s making the case that Fiat has scratched its way back to a healthy position and could get even stronger by tapping others for scale and technological expertise.