Fiat and Chrysler: Va Bene on Sustainability

When Fiat S.p.A. took on Chrysler — essentially saving Chrysler from financial ruin — many wondered about how the integration of a quintessential Italian maker of small and sporty cars and a classic American nameplate synonymous with big, powerful cars would fare.

Would it be, ahem, sustainable? The early answer on that is yes, at least judging from their recent financial results and from their joint efforts on sustainability.

Fiat Group and Chrysler Group released a 268-page report that outlines — for the first time — their combined results on sustainability initiatives.

Highlights from the report include:

• Significant reductions on the environmental impact of production processes. At the Fiat Group Automobiles and Chrysler Group assembly and stamping plants, total CO2 emissions per vehicle were down 10 percent and water consumption per vehicle produced was down 18.5 percent over 2010 levels.


• Investments of $354 million (270 million euros) for health and safety in the workplace aimed at “overall employee well-being.”


• Meeting the highest international safety standards: 11 Chrysler Group vehicles were named “Top Safety Pick for 2012” by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and nine Fiat Group models achieved the maximum Euro NCAP rating


• Fiat and Chrysler received the maximum Global Reporting Initiative Application Level A+, indicating the highest level of transparency possible as well as external assurance of the data. The GRI is a widely used reporting framework for performance on environmental, social and other corporate citizenship issues.

Fiat was also included in the Global 500 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index and Carbon Performance Leadership Index in recognition of its efforts to combat climate change. It was the only Italian company among 23 companies that were included on both indexes.

“The union between Fiat and Chrysler has enabled us to strengthen our focus on sustainable mobility by leveraging each partner’s strengths,” says Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat S.p.A. and Chrysler Group.

For the fifth straight year Fiat reported lowest CO2 emissions in Europe at 118.2 g/km.

Marchionne also revealed that Chrysler will begin production this year of an all-electric version of the Fiat 500 for the North American market.

The group’s sustainability plans includes commitments to “reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy using a 360-degree approach;” promote the use of alternative and renewable energy sources; source raw materials ethically; reduce the environmental impact of logistics; promote social and environmental responsibility among suppliers and maintain sustainability as a “key corporate objective.”

It’s a slick and highly-detailed sustainability report and one of the densest and most ambitious around. It’s almost as cute as the Fiat 500.

[Image credit: Fiat by Flicktone via Flickr CC]