The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Fiat Industrial
have signed a 350 million euro loan agreement in support
of the group’s R&D projects. This operation – and
cooperation between the two organisations in general –
was at the centre of a meeting in Turin between the
EIB’s Vice-President responsible for operations in
Italy, Malta and the Western Balkans, Dario Scannapieco,
and Fiat Industrial’s Chairman, Sergio Marchionne.
The 350 million euro loan will
finance projects carried out at five of Fiat
Industrial’s European R&D centres – in Italy (83% of the
loan), Germany (8%) and Switzerland (9%). The main aim
is to improve the energy efficiency of the company’s
products and reduce CO2 emissions.
The schemes financed will
involve R&D in the following fields: powertrain
technologies and components meeting the latest emissions
standards and their application in commercial,
industrial and agricultural vehicles; alternative
powertrain and fuel technologies for commercial
vehicles; innovative vehicle architecture based on
improved aerodynamics and weight reduction, with a
particular focus on safety.
This loan will enable Fiat
Industrial – which has 51 R&D centres around the world –
to give fresh impetus to the design and application of
innovative solutions to increase the reliability and
performance of its vehicles while meeting the highest
sustainability standards. Such projects are in line with
one of the EIB’s key financing priorities: the design
and application of less polluting and more efficient
technologies in the engineering and transport sectors.
"At this stage in the global
and European economic cycle, investment in innovation is
essential to be able to look beyond the crisis and lay
the foundations for recovery" said EIB Vice-President
Dario Scannapieco – "and the projects financed by this
loan reflect the commitment of Fiat Industrial and the
European Union’s bank to supporting all programmes that
combine research with environmental responsibility."
Fiat Industrial’s Chairman,
Sergio Marchionne, added: "This project bears concrete
witness to our commitment to seeking high-tech solutions
that respect sustainable development. It is not by
chance that Fiat Industrial is the leader in the Dow
Jones Sustainability World and Europe Indexes, the most
prestigious stock market indexes in the sustainability
field. We are grateful to the EIB for believing in our
ability to create innovation in Europe, especially in
relation to the activity of our vehicle and engine
centres of excellence in Italy."
