Use of intermodal solutions 

Inbound and outbound transport of materials can require a significant percentage of road transport, depending on geography, infrastructure and production volumes. Even where such constraints exist, Fiat Group has always been committed to promoting the use of alternative modes of transport, in order to reduce traffic congestion levels and consequently contribute to reducing the emission of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

In 2010, Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) continued to establish rail routes in Italy and Europe (particularly for outbound flows from the Italian distribution center in Val di Sangro and the Polish manufacturing plant in Tychy), reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 19,800 tons compared to transporting the same number of vehicles by road. In addition, full implementation of similar initiatives for inbound flows, such as the Villanova (Italy) – Kragujevac (Serbia) route, has enabled a further reduction of 4,200 tons in CO₂ emissions compared with transporting by road.

In 2011, FGA will begin analysis for the activation of inbound rail routes from Northern Europe to plants in Southern Italy. Despite these initiatives, the contraction in production volumes at some FGA plants in Europe, combined with the need to maintain adequate delivery times to the network, resulted in a slight increase (approximately +1%) in the percentage of outbound transport by road over 2009.

Additional measures to optimize road transport (e.g., redefinition of routes and elimination of direct-drive transport), implemented by Fiat Group pre demerger in 2010, enabled further reductions of about 800 tons of CO₂ emissions.