The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has elected Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of Fiat S.p.A. as well as Chairman and CEO of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., as the association’s President for 2012.

“The year 2012 will be challenging especially if the instability in the Eurozone would not be addressed,” said Marchionne. “Our association will further focus its work on three main issues: European industrial policy; sustainable mobility and transport; and international trade relations. These issues are all closely linked as the industry’s capacity to invest and innovate depends on a strong, competitive manufacturing base in Europe.”

Marchionne takes over from Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division, who served as ACEA President in 2010 and 2011. “The European automotive industry is a major employer and invests over 30 billion EUR in R&D per year – more than any other industry in Europe”, added Zetsche. “The importance of our industry must be reflected in the Union’s economic, transport and trade policies.”

ACEA

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), founded in 1991, represents the interests of the major car, truck and bus manufacturers in Europe at EU level. The ACEA Board of Directors elects a new President each year. The automobile industry in Europe provides direct employment to more than 2.3 million people and supports another 10 million jobs in related sectors. Annually, the sector invests over € 30 billion in R&D, which makes it the largest private investor in R&D in Europe.

The ACEA members are BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, FIAT, Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, MAN Truck & Bus, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Scania, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen, Volvo Cars, and Volvo Group.

Sergio Marchionne

Sergio Marchionne is CEO of Fiat S.p.A., Chairman and CEO of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, as well as Chairman of Fiat Industrial S.p.A.and CNH Global N.V. Born in Chieti in 1952, he has dual Canadian and Italian citizenship. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto, as well as a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor (Canada).

Mr Marchionne is a barrister, solicitor and chartered accountant. He has been a member of the Board of Fiat S.p.A. since May 2003 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2004. He became

CEO of Chrysler Group LLC in June 2009, as well as Chairman in September 2011.

For further information, please contact Sigrid de Vries, Director Communications ACEA  +32 2 738 73 45 or sv@acea.be.