Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has apologized to Italian-Americans for using the term “wop” during a press conference at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
“I used the term ‘wop engines’ to refer to powertrains that would be used in the Alfa Romeo range,” Marchionne said in a letter to the Italian-American One Voice Coalition dated May 15. “The term was used in jest, by me as an Italian, to emphasize the uniqueness of the offering.”
Marchionne said he never intended to condone use of that the term, which is a pejorative acronym for Italian-Americans.
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