Fiat Chrysler CEO seeks 4.5 mln car sales in 2014

COLLEEN BARRY

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the combined automaker aims to sell 4.5 million to 4.6 million cars this year.

Marchionne addressed the last Fiat shareholders' meeting on Monday at the Italian carmaker's historic headquarters in Turin, Italy. The CEO aims to complete the merger of Fiat with U.S. carmaker Chrysler this year to create Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the seventh-largest automaker with 4.4 million sales last year.

The new company will have its legal headquarters in the Netherlands and fiscal headquarters in Britain. Shares will be traded in New York and Milan.

Marchionne said it would be "disingenuous" if he did not recognize the emotional aspects of merging two automakers with distinct histories, adding: "But our strength derives from the union of these two realities."