Fiat won't list Ferrari in 2006

Last year, a top executive from Italian bank Mediobanca, a key shareholder in Ferrari, said 2006 could be a good year for Ferrari's long-awaited bourse listing, if Fiat agreed. Fiat controls Ferrari with a 56 percent stake.

"(The Ferrari) listing (plan) is not on my agenda for the entire 2006. After that, we will see," Marchionne told reporters on the sidelines of a Fiat presentation of a new bond.

Italian newspaper Il Giornale said on Thursday Fiat had shelved plans to list Ferrari as it was no longer a priority for the Turin-based carmaker, which instead hoped Ferrari would boost its performance after the loss-making Maserati marque was split from it last year.

A source at Fiat said the carmaker would help find a new investor for Ferrari if Mediobanca decided to sell out.

Mediobanca bought a stake in Ferrari in 2002 to pump funds in Fiat which was then in a deep crisis. The bank sold a 3.3 percent stake in Ferrari last year, slashing its interests in the sports-car maker to 11.7 percent.

Marchionne said Fiat was aiming for new strategic alliances to reduce risks of investments in new products. He did not name possible new partners.

Fiat signed a cooperation deal with India's Tata Motors last month. It also has cooperation deals with France's PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Suzuki Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co.

Marchionne said Fiat could exceed its 30 percent target for car sales in its domestic market. On Wednesday, official data showed Fiat had 30.8 percent of the Italian market in January.

Marchionne said the new bond, expected to be launched next week, will be worth at least 750 million euros.