TN Officials Hope To Lure Fiat-Chrysler To State

PULASKI, Tenn. (AP) - State officials are making the case to Fiat head Sergio Marchionne to select Tennessee for the Italian automaker's joint headquarters with Chrysler Group LLC.

Marchionne met with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and others on Sunday at a ceremony to mark the expansion of Fiat subsidiary Magneti Marelli's components plant in Pulaski.

WPLN-FM reports that Marchionne said Tennessee officials have been "working me over pretty well."

When he rhetorically asked where those assembled for the ribbon cutting where they would prefer the headquarters to be, Haslam replied: "I vote right here."

Fiat SpA holds a majority stake in Chrysler, which is based in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Marchionne, who is the CEO of both companies, has said the merger could be complete by the middle of next year.

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