From the PR Newswire: For immediate release 22 September 2006 ROBERTO RONCHI ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY OF MASERATI Roberto Ronchi, currently responsible for Fleet and Network Development for Fiat Auto, Fiat Groups car division, will be assuming responsibility for the Maserati car brand effective immediately, replacing Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, who is leaving the Group to pursue other interests. He will retain responsibility for automotive fleet sales. Mr Ronchi joined the Group in 2002 as Commercial Director for Maserati, eventually assuming the additional responsibility for marketing, and moved over to Fiat Auto in April 2005. He brings with him a number of years of experience with international consumer goods companies. Fiat thanks Mr Kalbfell for his significant contributions to the development of both Alfa Romeo and Maserati and wishes him success in his future endeavours.
Good move IMHO, this German fellow has for all intense purposes destroyed Alfa by making a German Afla that has zero character or performance, he destroyed the Brera project by insisting on 4wd and heaven knows that he had in store for Maserati... Good riddance I say....
I was being facetious. This many top management changes in so few years is not a good thing. I can't comment about Alfa as I don't follow that story. I was speaking of Maserati. But remember, they are moving toward shared parts and at least one platform. Those ideas were most likely not his idea alone so your objections on the Alfa front may not be remedied by this change. Bob S.
Well thats true but the path that he steered Alfa down was a huge disaster so one can only speculate what would have happened to Maserati, this shared platform does not sound at all promising.....
Huge disaster? Both Alfa Rome & Maserati have had sales increases as a direct result of Kalbfell's leadership. Alfa went to 4WD long before Kalbfell came along as did most of its competition. As far as the Brera is concerned, it along with the 8C would have never made production if it wasn't for increased sales of the other models.
This is the most stupid comment I ever saw!! Tottally b******t!!! Kalbfell was only responsible in the first 6 months of his engagement with the FIAT-Group. The decision of how the new Alfa`s have to go into production was not on his agenda. To produce a car you have to organise your suppliers of tools, machinery parts. You have to get them minimum 16 months before the 1st car is rolling out of the factory involved in the new concept. All this was made before Kalbfell was in charge. His major job in the beginning was to combine the possible components between Maserati and Alfa. You say he was responsible that Alfa lost its soul??? The moment when someone took the decision to get an Alfa with FWD was the end of this great marque! This was many, many moons ago! Do your homework before you give stupid comments without any insight of the closer story! Ciao! Walter
Kalbfells archievement is/was the new production of the new car we see in Geneva next year! He also was a strong supporter of MASERATI CORSE and initiated the new MC12 "Corsa" - a car that was sold out before the fist example gets on its wheels. The the coming automatic gearbox for the Quattroporte for our fellow US-friends got his OK! Kalbfell was far more effective in his job than former CEO Martin Leach -who also was a great supporter of Maserati, but he had no time and was against the Alfa-/Maserati-connection.This kicked his chair..... Ciao! Walter
OK, so why was he shown the door so soon. All of this activity at the top just continues to feed Maserati's (really Fiat's) inability to chart a successful course. BTW, the "American" option of a real automatic transmission will finally give the car what it's always needed since it's debut. I'm happy to see they moved on this so "quickly". I'm sure they will still soldier on with that abomination "CC" they've foisted on everyone but maybe they should do like BMW has done with the M5 and offer a true manual box on the car. The repair costs and lifespan on the CC are not a plus. Besides, it's a Ferrari thing. Bob S.
The reason why Kalbfell has to give back the key for the Maserati door is very simple: His contract was for 2 years. He missed the sales-figures the FIAT-dragon Maccione gave him 2 years ago! When Kalbfell joint Maserati Ferrari was still in charge. Then Ferrari went out of that due to their planned stock-activities (which didn`t came thru until yet!!) all dealers focussed more on their Ferrari portfolio. Their cars they only have to spread around. Maserati they have to sell! Problem is, that most Ferrari dealers are no real salesmen. After Ferrari dismissed Maserati the sales went down.......! Kalbfell was a victim of the Ferrari decision. Also, FIAT gave him only 2 years for the financial turn-around. Unpossible to MHO after this amazing investment figures Ferrari/FIAT pushed into Maserati. A good example how a good take-over and successfull development of a car company can be is Aston Martin! You need an effective car-guy with visions and you have to give him time to follow a consequent brand development. Kalbfell had everything. What he didn`t have was - time! The King is Dead! Long live the King! Ciao! Walter
As far as the US is the biggest car market worldwide - its not the only one! The other markets went down. Ciao! Walter
Rob, it will go on. With all the typicall Italian "Grande Casino" and "molto confusioni"! The new car will be great and I can only hope that it will get the build-quality a Maserati deserves. Ciao! Walter
Alfa had four wheel drive cars in the mid 80's.......almost 20 years before Karl-Heinz Kalbfell took over
