GlobalEngineManufacturingAlliance

Fiat currently owns 20 percent of Chrysler and can raise its stake to 35 percent once it satisfies three criteria: builds a plant in the U.S. to assemble fuel efficient engines; builds a 40 mpg car in the U.S. and expands Chrysler's international reach. For each milestone achieved, Fiat gets another five percent of Chrysler. The first hurdle looks like it will be cleared next year, with Fiat committing to building the 500's 1.4-liter, 92-horsepower engine in Dundee, Michigan at what was once the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant.

Hyundai, now a world-class engine manufacturer, may lend engine technology to Mercedes-Benz for a future four-cylinder powerplant. It was just a few short years ago that DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai banded together in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) to build the so-called World Engine (pictured at right). The GEMA engine, with displacements ranging from 1.8-liters up to 2.4-liters, is found under the hood of more than a handful of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai products.