By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-895746.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Governor Granholm is visiting Italy and Germany this week. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, she's leading a trade delegation that's trying to lure European manufacturers to Michigan.
AUDIO:
Governor Granholm had dinner with Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and met with Italian auto suppliers on stop in Turin-Italy. She says Italian suppliers are very interested in the new Fiat-Chrysler partnership. The venture will start selling the compact Fiat 500 in the U-S later this year and eventually plans to market an electric version.
Granholm says she's impressed by Italians' confidence in the venture.
"I just think there's a lot of possibility here and I think Americans are really going to like the products," she says. "So, you know, I feel good if they feel good and I hope by 2011, we're going to start to really see Chrysler emerge."
Some auto analysts aren't quite so sure, and say Chrysler remains the most-challenged of the Detroit Three carmakers. The governor is off next to Germany.