The Italian press is reporting that former FCA and Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne has been in a coma since Friday. Il Stampa noted that its sources say Marchionne’s condition is irreversible and that he is breathing with a ventilator.
Marchionne is currently in the intensive care unit at the University of Zurich hospital. With him are his two sons from his former marriage and his companion, Manuela Battezzato.
Marchionne fell into a coma caused by undisclosed complications from a June surgery. Doctors tried bringing him out of the coma last week but were unsuccessful.
On Saturday, Marchionne’s duties at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ferrari were taken over on an interim basis by John Elkann, Mike Manley and Louis Camilleri. The positions will be made permanent as soon as a meeting of the respective boards can be held.
Bill Cawthon grew up in the auto industry in the 1950s. His Dad worked for Chrysler and Bill spent a number of Saturdays down on the plant floor at Dodge Main in Hamtramck. Bill is also the U.S. market correspondent for just-auto.com, a British auto industry publication, and a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association. You can reach him directly at (206) 888-7324 or by using the site contact form.