After their merger talks collapsed in June, an Italian newspaper reports that a merger between Fiat-Chrysler and Renault may be back on the table. If serious talks are being held, then it can be assumed that both the French Government, and Renualt alliance partner Nissan, have shifted the opposition that originally derailed the plan. Earlier this month Fiat-Chrysler CEO Mike Manley signaled that his firm was open to resuming discussions. If the companies do combine, it would make the resulting carmaker the world's third largest behind Volkswagen and Toyota. With a slowing global economy, and vast investment sums needed for future electric and self driving cars, the companies involve need the economies of scale such a merger could provide in order to prosper and perhaps even survive.