Sure it was easy to doubt the success of Fiat's top dog Sergio Marchionne.
It was 2009, and Fiat SpA had wed Chrysler, which had been getting taxpayer infusions to stay afloat.
In fact, the Detroit News pointed out that back in 2009, Adam Jonas, an auto analyst with Morgan Stanley in London, told the paper:
"Fiat-Chrysler probably won't make a new car together and won't do anything significant together. "I don't know if he (Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne) will succeed. Fiat has limited financial resources. To play you have to pay. In Fiat's case, it can't afford to pay, but still wants to play."
Since then, Marchionne has become a star, boosting Chrysler's market share, both in the foreign and domestic market.
He promises a great year in 2013, according to the News.
