It really was just a matter of time.


USA TODAY -- Fiat notified the U.S. Treasury today that it will take an option to buy out the government's remaining 6% stake in Chrysler Group.

When Fiat buys the shares, it will end all U.S. government ownership in the company. That would close out the U.S. involvement less than two years after the 2009 Obama Administration-controlled Chrysler bankruptcy and bailout that gave 20% and control to Fiat -- a remarkable turnaround.

The additional 6% would bring Fiat's ownership of Chrysler to a majority 52%. According to the Associated Press, a price for the government stake will negotiated within 10 business days. If no agreement can be reached, Fiat would pay a price determined by investment banks appointed by both parties.

This week, Chrysler also repaid its $7.5 billion in outstanding bailout loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Fiat earlier this week paid $1.3 billion for a 16 percent stake in Chrysler.

Chrysler may no longer be a US owned company | ksdk.com