5 Unforgettable Feats Sergio Marchionne Accomplished in His Lifetime
Reshaping the Future (and Present) of Formula One
Sergio Marchionne was never much of a motorsports guy, but he didn’t hesitate to thrust himself into Ferrari’s F1 efforts. When the most legendary manufacturer in the history of the sport fell on hard times, it was Marchionne who used his infamous hard-edged personality to right the ship. In the face of changing regulations, he even threatened to pull Ferrari from the sport altogether, as ballsy a move as you could possibly imagine.
But Marchionne refused to waver, inserting himself into meetings and showing little room for compromise. And his hard work and steadfast reputation has clearly paid off, resulting in four Ferrari wins out of 11 races in the 2018 season and a battle for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles. Just a few years ago, that success would have seemed unthinkable.
Turning Ferrari, Jeep, and Ram into Powerhouse Brands
It’s easy to forget that Ferrari’s road cars were falling on hard times just a few years ago. The 430 wasn’t as well received as expected, and many went as far as to call it a disappointment. Then along came Marchionne. He replaced the 430 with the incredible 488, a car that brought throes of supercar fans back to the prancing horse. And of course, no one can deny the crowning achievement that is the LaFerrari.
Jeep, on the other hand, was nothing more than a niche brand just a few years ago. Sales have grown six-fold since 2009, and are expected to surpass 2 million units in 2018. No longer is the Wrangler considered just a toy for hardcore off-roaders. It’s now a refined product, though still highly capable. And though spinning the Dodge Ram into its own brand seemed risky and even odd at the time, that move has paid off as the Ram is now threatening to take over the Silverado as America’s second-best selling truck.
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