POINT 2-Fca, leap Naphtha margins, but need a lot of work to get to Ford, GM – AD – Reuters Italy

(Rewrites, adding statements Marchionne)

MILAN, July 30 (Reuters ) – Fiat Chrysler (Fca) surprised the market with margins in North America, well above expectations, but admits that to achieve competitors Ford and GM there is still much work to do.

He said the CEO Sergio Marchionne in the conference call on quarterly results, which proved to be better than expected and have pushed the shares to rise by more than 5%.

“We must not fall in love with these numbers, “said the CEO in respect of data for NAFTA. “They are an indication, we still have much work to do to bridge the gap” with competitors.

Fca has improved in North America, mainly due to the fact “that we have become smarter about pricing,” said Marchionne.

The CEO sees the break-even by the year in Brazil, where he is now suffering from the economic crisis and for the costs of start-up of ‘system of Pernambuco.

Maserati volumes in 2015 may be slightly lower 2014, but by the first half of next year there will be the launch of the SUV Levante.

In the area of ​​integration with other large groups, Marchionne has guaranteed not to have changed his mind, since April 29, when he strongly emphasized the need for consolidation in the sector.

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