INSIDER
Stellantis tells owners of over 24,000 hybrid minivans to park outdoors due to battery fire risk
Read full article: Stellantis tells owners of over 24,000 hybrid minivans to park outdoors due to battery fire riskStellantis is telling owners of more than 24,000 plug-in hybrid minivans to park them outdoors away from buildings, and to stop charging them due to the possibility of battery fires.
Chrysler recalls more than 211,000 SUVs and pickup trucks due to software malfunction
Read full article: Chrysler recalls more than 211,000 SUVs and pickup trucks due to software malfunctionStellantis-owned Chrysler is recalling more than 211,000 SUVs and pickup trucks in the U.S., due to a software malfunction that could disable the carsโ electronic stability control systems.
Suspected drunk driver hits suspected drunk driver in head-on collision on I-696
Read full article: Suspected drunk driver hits suspected drunk driver in head-on collision on I-696Police said a Chrysler 300 was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-696 when they struck a Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on.
Police seek person of interest linked to critical hit-and-run on Detroitโs west side
Read full article: Police seek person of interest linked to critical hit-and-run on Detroitโs west sideThe Detroit Police Department is seeking information regarding a person of interest linked to the critical hit-and-run of a 46-year-old man.
Stellantis recalls nearly 273,000 Ram trucks because rear view camera image may not show on screen
Read full article: Stellantis recalls nearly 273,000 Ram trucks because rear view camera image may not show on screenStellantis is recalling nearly 273,000 trucks in the U.S. because the radio software can stop the rear view camera image from being displayed.
Auto union rejects wage offers from Detroit companies with strike deadline 6 days away
Read full article: Auto union rejects wage offers from Detroit companies with strike deadline 6 days awayThe United Auto Workers union has rejected wage and benefit offers from all three Detroit automakers, raising tensions just six days before a strike deadline for 146,000 employees.
Threats of a strike heating up even before UAW begins negotiations with automakers
Read full article: Threats of a strike heating up even before UAW begins negotiations with automakersWhenever the United Auto Workers union begins negotiating a new contract with Detroitโs three automakers, threats of a strike are typically heard among union members.
3 arrested after 50-minute police chase through Warren, Detroit, Harper Woods
Read full article: 3 arrested after 50-minute police chase through Warren, Detroit, Harper WoodsThree people were arrested after a 50-minute police chase that started in Warren, went through Detroit, and ended in Harper Woods.
Driver who killed 5-year-old boy while accelerating to beat red light in Warren sentenced to prison
Read full article: Driver who killed 5-year-old boy while accelerating to beat red light in Warren sentenced to prisonThe driver who killed a 5-year-old boy while accelerating to beat a red light in Warren was sentenced to 20-40 years in prison.
โMy car is my livelihoodโ: Detroit mother of 5 desperate for help after someone sets car on fire
Read full article: โMy car is my livelihoodโ: Detroit mother of 5 desperate for help after someone sets car on fireA Detroit mother of five is desperate for help after somebody set her car on fire.
Shots fired at driver who got out on Lodge to check on people inside stopped car heโd hit
Read full article: Shots fired at driver who got out on Lodge to check on people inside stopped car heโd hitShots were fired at a driver on the Lodge Freeway after he got out of his vehicle to check on the people inside a stopped car he wasnโt able to avoid hitting, police said.
Teen driving stolen car throws pistol, trips over own feet before police arrest him in Detroit
Read full article: Teen driving stolen car throws pistol, trips over own feet before police arrest him in DetroitA teenager who was seen driving a stolen car overnight threw a pistol before tripping over his own feet, allowing police to catch up and arrest him in Detroit.
US opens 3 probes of safety problems in Stellantis vehicles; 2 Jeeps, 1 Dodge
Read full article: US opens 3 probes of safety problems in Stellantis vehicles; 2 Jeeps, 1 DodgeU.S. safety regulators have opened three investigations into safety problems with about 1.65 million vehicles made by Stellantis.
Stellantis announces billions will be invested in Canadian operations
Read full article: Stellantis announces billions will be invested in Canadian operationsAutomaker Stellantis says it will invest $3.6 billion Canadian dollars, about $2.8 billion, to upgrade two Canadian assembly plants and expand a research center as it accelerates its long-term electrification strategy.
โStellantis is aggressively moving forwardโ: Automaker offers buyouts to some salaried workers
Read full article: โStellantis is aggressively moving forwardโ: Automaker offers buyouts to some salaried workersSome white collar workers at Stellantis have the next few weeks to decide if they want to retire.
Residents complain of foul, caustic odors from Detroit Stellantis plant
Read full article: Residents complain of foul, caustic odors from Detroit Stellantis plantResidents that live near the Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant on Detroitโs east side claim fumes from the plant are causing their throats to burn.
New documentary shows progress at Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit
Read full article: New documentary shows progress at Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant in DetroitWhen Stellantis merged with Fiat Chrysler, it didnโt waiver on the deal with the city of Detroit to revitalize not only the Mack engine plant but the surrounding area.
Truck traffic returns to Detroit neighborhood near Stellantis plant
Read full article: Truck traffic returns to Detroit neighborhood near Stellantis plantWhen residents complained about loud trucks rolling through their Pingree Park neighborhood at all hours, they were promised the traffic would stop.
Nightside Report June 23, 2021: People living near Detroit Stellantis plant fed up with constant truck traffic, Metro Detroit school districts push for later start times this fall
Read full article: Nightside Report June 23, 2021: People living near Detroit Stellantis plant fed up with constant truck traffic, Metro Detroit school districts push for later start times this fallHere are tonight's top stories
People living near Detroit Stellantis plant fed up with constant truck traffic
Read full article: People living near Detroit Stellantis plant fed up with constant truck trafficChryslerโs new plant on Detroitโs east side was a massive boost to the cityโs economy, but neighbors living near it said itโs a nightmare.
2 Italian managers indicted in Fiat Chrysler emissions probe
Read full article: 2 Italian managers indicted in Fiat Chrysler emissions probeTwo Italian managers in Fiat Chryslerโs diesel engine program have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit in a widening case involving allegations of emissions test cheating.
Michigan virus surge slows Ram truck plant in Sterling Heights, source says
Read full article: Michigan virus surge slows Ram truck plant in Sterling Heights, source saysMichiganโs worst-in-the-nation Covid-19 outbreak is starting to affect automotive production, with a major Ram pickup truck plant slowing its output due to a large number of absent workers.
Park outdoors: Ram recalls heavy-duty trucks for fire risk
Read full article: Park outdoors: Ram recalls heavy-duty trucks for fire riskDETROIT โ The company that makes heavy-duty diesel Ram trucks is telling some owners to park them outdoors due to the risk of an engine fire. Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis, is recalling just over 20,000 of the trucks mainly in the U.S. and Canada. The company says the 2021 pickup and chassis cab trucks have heater electrical relays that can short, overheat and in rare cases cause fires. None involved customer vehicles. The recalled trucks are equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines.
Metro Detroit weather: Expect blue skies and milder conditions on first spring afternoon of the year
Read full article: Metro Detroit weather: Expect blue skies and milder conditions on first spring afternoon of the yearThis May 12, 2020, photo shows a general view of the Renaissance Center, headquarters for General Motors, along the Detroit skyline from the Detroit River. Scarves, gloves and hats can be shed by the middle of Saturday afternoon. Skies will be blue, the sun will be out and temperatures will rise to milder ranges. It will be chillier near the Detroit River and the big lakes. Watch: Saturday, March 20, 2021 afternoon weather updateThis is the perfect weather for an afternoon drive.
Stellantis CEO says 4th largest carmaker to be disruptive
Read full article: Stellantis CEO says 4th largest carmaker to be disruptiveThe Italian-American carmaker and the French mass-market automotive company completed their merger on Jan. 16, creating Stellantis, the worldโs fourth-largest carmaker, despite a pandemic year that saw profits plunge. โStellantis is not born from a crisis,โโ Tavares told a conference call after fourth-quarter earnings were released. Fiat Chrysler reported adjusted net profits in the pandemic year of 1.9 billion euros ($2.3 billion), down 57% from 2019. PSA reported earnings of 2.2 billion euros, a drop of 32%. Fiat Chrysler reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of 2.3 billion euros, a record 2.2 billion euros of those generated in North America, where the profit margin was 11.6%.
Some auto industry leaders concerned about over-commitment to electric vehicles
Read full article: Some auto industry leaders concerned about over-commitment to electric vehiclesDETROIT โ Much of General Motorsโ success and positive press in recent months comes from the discussion around electric vehicles. GM wants to sell all electric vehicles by 2035 and be carbon neutral by 2040. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares visited Detroit, looking to introduce himself and see his Detroit plants. Chryslerโs future is likely electric and autonomous. He said the company is aggressively pursuing electric vehicles, but also said the company has to be very careful because electrification adds significant cost.
What Stellantis means for jobs, future prospects in Metro Detroit
Read full article: What Stellantis means for jobs, future prospects in Metro DetroitDETROIT โ What was Chrysler went to Daimler Chrysler then Fiat Chrysler and now Stellantis. The merger was announced over the weekend and the new CEO on Tuesday talked about how the enlarged company will compete. The one thing Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, said Tuesday that should give FCA employees comfort is he doesnโt expect layoffs saying the companyโs new global scale will put a shield around jobs. But the CEO says global scale provides strength to handle a lot meaning no layoffs. โI think Stellantis is at a point of strong fundamentals to do great things in the future,โ said Tavares.
Carmaker Stellantis shares jump in Milan, Paris on first day
Read full article: Carmaker Stellantis shares jump in Milan, Paris on first dayStellantis, the car company combining PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler, was launched Monday on the Milan and Paris stock exchanges, giving life to the fourth-largest car company in the world. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)MILAN โ Stellantis, the car company combining PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler, was launched Monday on the Milan and Paris stock exchanges, giving life to the fourth-largest auto company in the world. Stellantis shares rallied 7.6% in Milan to 13.53 euros ($16.32). CEO Carlos Tavares said during a virtual bell-ringing ceremony that the merger creates 25 billion euros in shareholder value. Its closing market capitalization was under 20 billion euros, far off its 2018 highs of more than 30 billion euros.
Merger between FCA and Peugeot finalized amid concern over business deal
Read full article: Merger between FCA and Peugeot finalized amid concern over business dealFiat Chrysler Shareholders of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group met Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 to vote on a merger that will create the world's fourth-largest automaker. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)DETROIT โ The merger between Peugeot maker PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles that will lead to the creation of Stellantis was complete Saturday. The Peugeot and FCA merger has been the subject of much controversy. Speaking to Local 4 News earlier this month, Frank Rhodes, the great grandson of Walter Chrysler who founded famed auto company Chrysler in 1924 expressed concern over the business deal. Read more: Great grandson of Walter Chrysler worries about fate of automaker
Semiconductor shortage forces automobile production cuts
Read full article: Semiconductor shortage forces automobile production cutsA widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)DETROIT โ A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns. Toyota was forced to slow production of the full-size Tundra pickup at a factory in San Antonio, Texas. "This will minimize the impact of the current semiconductor shortage while ensuring we maintain production at our other North American plants,โ Fiat Chrysler said in a statement. The firm lists major players in the automotive chip market as STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductor, Texas Instruments and Toshiba.
Revamped Detroit auto plant to start making new Jeep by March
Read full article: Revamped Detroit auto plant to start making new Jeep by MarchDETROIT โ A revamped version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV with three rows of seats will roll off the assembly line this spring at a restored Detroit factory complex. Fiat Chrysler unveiled the Grand Cherokee L on Thursday and said production would start by the end of March. It hired 3,850 people to work at the company's first new auto plant in Detroit in nearly three decades. Current versions of the Grand Cherokee are now being built at FCA's Jefferson North plant in Detroit. Once Detroit Assembly is up and running, Jefferson North will be converted to build the new versions, FCA said.
Great grandson of Walter Chrysler worries about fate of automaker
Read full article: Great grandson of Walter Chrysler worries about fate of automakerThe Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merger is at the center of the contention. Walter Chrysler founded his famed auto company in 1924. His name has stuck around through the Daimler merger and the Fiat takeover, but this new world without Chrysler bothers his great grandson, Frank Rhodes. Rhodes is also upset about the possibility the Chrysler brand itself is in jeopardy. โItโs down to two vehicles now and one is a very old Sedan and Sedans arenโt selling, so the future of the Chrysler brand may be questionable,โ said Krebs.
Local 4 News at Noon -- Jan. 4, 2021
Read full article: Local 4 News at Noon -- Jan. 4, 2021DETROIT โ Hereโs what you missed on Local 4 News at Noon. Shareholders approve merger between Fiat Chrysler, PeugeotShareholders of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot voted Monday to merge and create the worldโs fourth-largest auto company which, its architects hope, can more readily take on an enormous technological shift in the industry.
Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot shareholders approve merger
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot shareholders approve mergerFiat Chrysler Shareholders of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group are meeting Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 to vote on a merger that will create the world's fourth-largest automaker. Fiat Chrysler shares were up 0.2% in New York on Monday at $18.13, while Peugeot rose 1.7% to 22.75 euros. Fiat Chrysler announced Monday that its stockholders as of Jan. 15 will get a special cash payment worth 1.84 euros ($2.26) per common share after the merger closes. Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley will head North American operations, which is key to Tavares' long-time goal of getting a U.S. foothold for the French carmaker he has run since 2014, and the clear money-maker for Fiat Chrysler. Fiat Chrysler said there are no plans to close any plants.
Cuts likely as Fiat Chrysler-PSA tie-up nears approval
Read full article: Cuts likely as Fiat Chrysler-PSA tie-up nears approvalFiat Chrysler Shareholders of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group are meeting Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 to vote on a merger that will create the world's fourth-largest automaker. Experts say that means Tavares, currently the head of PSA Group, is likely to follow that blueprint when he becomes leader of a merged PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The low-performing Chrysler brand might get the axe as could slow-selling cars, SUVs or trucks that lack potential. He likely will target Europe for consolidation first, because thatโs where Fiat vehicles overlap extensively with PSAโs, said IHS Markit Principal Auto Analyst Stephanie Brinley. In December the companies announced that Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley would run Stellantisโ operations in the Americas.
Fiat Chrysler contributes $400K to Detroit neighborhood fund
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler contributes $400K to Detroit neighborhood fundDETROIT โ Fiat Chrysler is contributing $400,000 to a Detroit neighborhood fund as part of a community benefits agreement tied to its new assembly plant on the cityโs east side, the automaker said Monday. Another $400,000 will be contributed in 2021, according to Fiat Chrysler. The community benefits agreement calls for Fiat Chrysler to invest in the surrounding neighborhoods, jobs training and education. Fiat Chrysler also said Monday that it is contributing $285,000 to the Chandler Park Conservancy to help the nonprofit start construction on a community-based environmental education plaza. The automakerโs commitment to Detroit goes beyond its facilities, said Ron Stallworth, a Fiat Chrysler external affairs manager.
Fiat Chrysler CEO Manley to run Americas after PSA merger
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler CEO Manley to run Americas after PSA mergerFILE - In this Jan. 14, 2019 file photo, Fiat Chrysler's new CEO, Mike Manley, is interviewed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Manley will run operations in the Americas when his company merges with Frances PSA Peugeot early next year. FCA Chairman John Elkann announced Manleys new post on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in a letter to employees. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT โ Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley will run operations in the Americas when his company merges with Franceโs PSA Peugeot early next year. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares will run the overall company, to be named Stellantis.
1 killed in 2-vehicle crash on 8 Mile Road in northwest Detroit
Read full article: 1 killed in 2-vehicle crash on 8 Mile Road in northwest DetroitDETROIT โ One person was killed in a two-vehicle crash on 8 Mile Road in northwest Detroit on Monday. The crash happened in the 7500 block of West 8 Mile Road. Police said a man from Warren was driving a red Chevrolet Cobalt was killed in the crash. The Warren man was driving eastbound on 8 Mile Road, possibly at a high rate of speed, when he got into a crash with the man driving a blue Chrysler, police said. The Warren manโs vehicle struck a building, causing a gas main leak and a water main leak.
Fiat Chrysler posts record Q3 profit ahead of PSA merger
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler posts record Q3 profit ahead of PSA mergerMILAN โ A rebound in car production in Fiat Chrysler on Wednesday reported record third-quarter earnings as production returned to nearly pre-pandemic levels. The Italian-American automaker, which is finalizing its full merger with French rival PSA Peugeot, reported a net profit in the three months ending Sept. 30 of 1.2 billion ($1.4 billion). The carmaker reported adjusted earnings before tax and interest in North America of 2.5 billion euros. Overall, the carmaker said global earnings before tax and interest were a record 2.3 billion euros despite a 6% fall in revenues to 26 billion euros. Fiat Chrysler announced earlier Wednesday that its merger with PSA Peugeot is on track to be finalized by the end of the first quarter of 2021, as planned.
Carmakers FCA and PSA confirm progress toward full merger
Read full article: Carmakers FCA and PSA confirm progress toward full mergerFILE - In this Wednesday, Dec.18, 2019 file photo, he logo of the French car maker Peugeot is pictured in Paris. Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 confirmed progress toward their full merger to create the globes fourth-largest carmaker, with completion expected by the end of March 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, file)MILAN โ Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot on Wednesday confirmed progress toward their full merger to create the globeโs fourth-largest carmaker, with completion expected by the end of March 2021. The completion date for the merger is in line with the original time frame, despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. PSAโs CEO Carlos Tavares will lead the group, with Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann head of the board.
Pickup truck sales remain strong during coronavirus pandemic
Read full article: Pickup truck sales remain strong during coronavirus pandemicDETROIT โ Despite the coronavirus pandemic, automakers are holding their own as pickup truck sales remain strong. Automakers can charge much more than the cost for a pickup truck. โEven though theyโre going flat out, and even though they are running three shifts and theyโre going as fast as they can, that was two months of production that you cannot go back and make it up," Brinley said. So that has made a difference with new players in the segment," Brinley said. The more competitive it gets, the more theyโre going to bring it," Brinley said.
Trust Index: Fact-checking Biden-Trump debate claims about economy, Michigan
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Biden-Trump debate claims about economy, MichiganBoth he and former Vice President Joe Biden made Michigan-specific claims during Tuesday nightโs first presidential debate. We ran those claims through the Trust Index to see how factual the statements were. Biden and the economyWeโll start with the first mention of Michigan from the President. Auto industry claimsHere are two claims from Biden on the state of the automakers and his role in the auto bailout. Weโve tested claims made by both Biden and Trump on the auto industry before.
Daimler AG to pay $1.5B to settle emissions cheating probes
Read full article: Daimler AG to pay $1.5B to settle emissions cheating probesWASHINGTON โ Automaker Daimler AG and subsidiary Mercedes-Benz USA have agreed to pay $1.5 billion to the U.S. government and California state regulators to resolve emissions cheating allegations, officials said Monday. The settlement, which includes civil penalties, will also require Daimler to fix the vehicles, officials said. Daimler AG said the settlement would bring costs of about $1.5 billion, while the civil settlement will bring a one-off charge of about $700 million. Fiat Chrysler also is being investigated for allegedly cheating on emissions. In April 2016, the Justice Department asked Daimler to conduct an internal probe into its exhaust emissions certification process.
Jeep reveals hybrid Wrangler, 1st US battery-powered vehicle
Read full article: Jeep reveals hybrid Wrangler, 1st US battery-powered vehicleDETROIT Fiat Chrysler's Jeep brand is starting to offer gas-electric hybrid and eventually full electric powertrains across its lineup. The market in the U.S. also is unclear for a plug-in Wrangler, or any electric vehicles for that matter, Abuelsamid said. Last year in the U.S., only 310,000 plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles were sold, less than 2% of the market. Meunier said FCA is working on a fully electric Wrangler, but he wouldn't say when it would arrive. The company showed off a Grand Wagoneer concept vehicle with a fully electric powertrain.
Fiat Chrysler calls GM allegations 'defamatory and baseless'
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler calls GM allegations 'defamatory and baseless'DETROIT Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is denying allegations by General Motors that FCA used foreign bank accounts to bribe union officials so they would stick GM with higher labor costs. The allegations of new evidence were made in a motion asking a federal judge to reconsider his July dismissal of a federal lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler. GM alleged that bribes were paid to two former United Auto Workers presidents, as well as a former union vice president and at least one former GM employee. GM alleged that bribes were paid to former United Auto Workers Presidents Dennis Williams and Ron Gettelfinger, as well as Vice President Joe Ashton. GMs motion contended that payments were made to accounts in places like Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Singapore and the Cayman Islands.
US investigates electrical fires in 2014 Chrysler minivans
Read full article: US investigates electrical fires in 2014 Chrysler minivansDETROIT The U.S. government's road safety agency is investigating complaints of fires in a power and charging port in some Chrysler Town and Country minivans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has three reports of fires and one injury in minivans from the 2014 model year. The agency says owners complained of fires starting in the ports, which are mounted in a trim piece on the driver's side between the second- and third-row seats. Fiat Chrysler, which makes the minivans, says it's cooperating with the investigation. The agency will determine what caused the fires and how often they happen.
GM alleges Fiat Chrysler spent millions to bribe UAW leaders
Read full article: GM alleges Fiat Chrysler spent millions to bribe UAW leadersGM alleges that payments were made so the officials would saddle GM with more than $1 billion in additional labor costs. GM alleged that accounts apparently exist in Gettelfingers name, and the name of a relative in Panama and Switzerland. In July, U.S. District Judge Paul Borman in Detroit tossed out GMs lawsuit that alleged that Fiat Chrysler paid off union leaders to get better contract terms than GM. In a 2019 lawsuit, GM alleged that Fiat Chrysler bribed officials of the United Auto Workers union to get lower labor costs. GM alleged that FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne, who died in 2018, wanted to pressure GM into merging by weakening it with higher costs.
Fiat Chrysler muscles through, green shoots in North America
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler muscles through, green shoots in North AmericaIt said the normal summer factory shutdowns have been eliminated or shortened at most North America plants to meet stronger-than-expected demand for vehicles. The loss was a huge reversal from last years second quarter when Fiat Chrysler made $884 million. The company had warned that the second quarter would be much worse than the first, when it lost $1.84 billion. Four of the new electric vehicles will be made in Europe, Manley said Friday in a call with industry analysts and reporters. The electric vehicles include the battery powered Fiat 500 small car, a fully electric Ducato van, and plug-in gas-electric hybrid versions of the Jeep Compass, Wrangler and Renegade.
Fiat Chrysler recalls 925K older-model vehicles due to air bag issue
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler recalls 925K older-model vehicles due to air bag issueFiat Chrysler is recalling more than 925,000 older-model vehicles to fix an issue with air bag covers on the steering wheel. An FCA investigation discovered these vehicles are equipped with certain clips, no longer in use, that may over time loosen and disengage. Should these things happen, and there is a driver-side air bag deployment, the clips and/or plastic emblems they are meant to secure, may act as projectiles. The recall is limited to model-year 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro SUVs, and model-year 2008-2010 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans. In the interim, FCA strongly advises against tampering with the emblems, which are located in the center of the vehicles steering wheels.
Appeals court: CEOs of General Motors, Fiat Chrysler dont have to meet to settle lawsuit
Read full article: Appeals court: CEOs of General Motors, Fiat Chrysler dont have to meet to settle lawsuitDETROIT General Motors is suing Fiat Chrysler for an alleged bribery scheme involving the United Auto Workers (UAW). A federal judge hearing the case wanted the companys CEOs to sit down and hash out a deal. READ: General Motors appeals ruling in FCA lawsuit after judge tells CEOs to make a dealGM filed a racketeering lawsuit against FCA and its now deceased CEO Sergio Marchionne last November. On June 23, a district judge ordered that CEOs Mary Barra of GM and Michael Manley of FCA to meet in person, without legal counsel. They were ordered to personally report back to the district judge on July 1 on their progress on settling the case.
General Motors appeals ruling in FCA lawsuit after judge tells CEOs to make a deal
Read full article: General Motors appeals ruling in FCA lawsuit after judge tells CEOs to make a dealDETROIT General Motors is suing Fiat Chrysler for an alleged bribery scheme involving the United Auto Workers (UAW). The federal judge hearing the case wants the companys CEOs to sit down and hash out a deal. But GM CEO Mary Barra is not interested in that. GM filed a racketeering lawsuit against FCA and its now deceased CEO Sergio Marchionne last November. READ: UAW president steps down as GM sues rival over union bribery
ClickOnDetroit Morning Briefing -- June 27, 2020
Read full article: ClickOnDetroit Morning Briefing -- June 27, 2020A missing man was found dead behind a vacant home on Detroits east side Friday night, police say. General Motors is suing Fiat Chrysler for an alleged bribery scheme involving the United Auto Workers. When it comes to tracking the way a virus circulates, researchers use many traditional methods, like contact tracing. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 62,695 as of Saturday morning, including 5,888 deaths, state officials report.
FCA: No confirmed COVID-19 case at Jefferson North
Read full article: FCA: No confirmed COVID-19 case at Jefferson NorthFCA: No confirmed COVID-19 case at Jefferson NorthPublished: June 26, 2020, 6:16 pmThe FCA said no confirmed COVID-19 cases are at Jefferson North. Some workers are refusing to go in.
No COVID-19 cases at Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, FCA confirms
Read full article: No COVID-19 cases at Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, FCA confirmsDETROIT Coronavirus concerns have hit a Fiat Chrysler plant here in Detroit disrupting the line at Jefferson north just a week after the company ramped up to full production. The plant here is not running after those workers refused to return Friday over the concern they may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Auto planet employees at Fiat Chryslers Jefferson North plant in Detroit refusing to work over fears about the spread of the coronavirus. But overnight videos and images were posted online allegedly showing line workers refusing to work. We got word late this afternoon that the employee who were sent home sick has tested negative for COVID-19.
Ford to resume full production Monday -- two weeks earlier than planned
Read full article: Ford to resume full production Monday -- two weeks earlier than plannedWEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. Ford Motor Company announced it will return to full production Monday, which is two weeks earlier than planned. Its been more than three months since Ford has operated at full capacity. That process appears to be moving along as Ford brings back laid off third-shift employees at several plants. Dealers are screaming for vehicles, especially trucks and sport utility vehicles, Krebs said. Earlier this week, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said she expected GM to be at full manufacturing capacity by the end of the month.
EU opens probe into proposed Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot deal
Read full article: EU opens probe into proposed Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot dealEuropean Commissioner Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager talks during a video press conference at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP)BRUSSELS The European Union is opening an in-depth investigation into the proposed merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot that would create the worlds fourth-largest automaker. Vestager stressed that either Fiat Chrysler or Peugeot are already the leader in many EU nations in that sector and the merger would eliminate a major player, thus reducing competition. Fiat Chrysler has been looking for an industrial partner in recent years. A previous deal with French rival Renault last spring fell apart over French government concerns about the role of Renaults Japanese partner, Nissan.
Checking in with Metro Detroit auto plants 3 weeks after reopening
Read full article: Checking in with Metro Detroit auto plants 3 weeks after reopeningWARREN, Mich. Three weeks ago, the Big Three automakers in Metro Detroit -- Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler -- reopened their parts and assembly plants. Auto workers are trying to tread carefully and avoid spreading COVID-19. The Warren Truck Plant continues working two shifts per day, and the new protocols have caused many changes. While everyone is trying to get their feet under them, the industry as a whole appears to be ready for a comeback. Meanwhile, for car and truck buyers, the shutdown caused inventory shortages, so dealers are doing what they can to deal with that issues.
Metro Detroits Big Three automakers restart production after being shut down for months
Read full article: Metro Detroits Big Three automakers restart production after being shut down for monthsDETROIT Metro Detroits Big Three automakers -- General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler -- have restarted production after being shut down for nearly two months because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). FCA officials showed Local 4 the work being done inside the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant to mitigate the spread of the virus. Local 4 spoke with current and retired workers to see if they feel safe going back to work. Thats what Im worried about.Ford is using technology to keep workers safe, having them wear watches that vibrate when they get too close to each other. Ford CEO Jim Hackett said the last couple of months have convinced him a reopening can be done safely.
How first day of reopening went for Ford, GM, FCA autoworkers in Metro Detroit
Read full article: How first day of reopening went for Ford, GM, FCA autoworkers in Metro DetroitDETROIT Thousands of Metro Detroit autoworkers were back on the job Monday as Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler assembly plants started rolling again. At the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, UAW line workers were pleasantly surprised. It fogs your glasses up, but were going to be alright.It was safe, said Moses Brooks, of UAW Local 600. Arnett Weatherspoon, of UAW Local 140, said the first day went smoothly at the Warren Truck Plant, but he still has concerns. The second shift workers at the Ford F-150 plant were also in line getting ready for their shift.
April European car sales see worst drop since records began
Read full article: April European car sales see worst drop since records beganMILAN European car sales bottomed out last month as the automotive industry faces its worst crisis in decades. Carmakers across the continent sold just 270,682 vehicles last month, compared with 1.14 million a year earlier, the strongest monthly drop in car demand since records began, ACEA said. European car sales for the first four months of the year were down 39%. The steepest losses during that financial crisis occurred in January 2009, when sales fell 27%. German luxury carmakers BMW and Daimler saw sales sink 65% and 79% respectively.
Fiat Chrysler makes $6.8 billion Italy-backed loan request
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler makes $6.8 billion Italy-backed loan requestFCA said in a statement late Saturday that it was seeking 6.3 billion euros ($6.8 billion) in financing through Intesa SanPaolo, or one-quarter of its industrial revenue in Italy. Some politicians in the governing coalition questioned the loan to the carmaker, which moved its legal headquarters to the Netherlands and fiscal headquarters to Britain in 2014 after completing the merger between Italys Fiat and U.S. carmaker Chrysler. The shutdown of Fiat Chrysler production and showrooms in Italy because of coronavirus had a dramatic short- and medium-term impact on the entire automotive ecosystem, Fiat Chrysler said in a statement. Fiat Chrysler began reopening Italian plants at the end of April. Fiat Chrysler is in the process of a merger with French carmaker PSA Peugeot.
FCA worker reports cough, continues to work, tests positive for COVID-19, employee says
Read full article: FCA worker reports cough, continues to work, tests positive for COVID-19, employee saysSTERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. A worker with Fiat Chrysler said she feels unsafe on the job after returning back to the plant. A co-worker reported a cough on her health questionnaire and she continued to work before she tested positive for coronavirus. The UAW said if an member is afraid to go back, they will work with that member on a case by case basis. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration said anyone with safety concerns about their work place should make a report with the state. She said FCA is offering that employees who are afraid to come in can take a leave of absence and not get paid.
Fiat Chrysler employee gives food to 700 familes in need
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler employee gives food to 700 familes in needFiat Chrysler employee gives food to 700 familes in needPublished: May 9, 2020, 6:20 pmAfter nearly losing his life to a heart condition, Marvin Skipper dedicated his life to helping his community.
12-year-old boy critically injured when car crashes into semi truck trailer on I-94 in Dearborn
Read full article: 12-year-old boy critically injured when car crashes into semi truck trailer on I-94 in DearbornDEARBORN, Mich. โ A 12-year-old boy suffered critical injuries during a crash Friday morning on eastbound I-94 in Dearborn. Two lanes on eastbound I-94 have been blocked for hours near Schaefer Highway. Police said the Chrysler crashed into the truck when the truck was getting up to speed when entering eastbound I-94 from Schaefer Highway. The female driver of the Chrysler suffered serious injuries to her legs, police said. The truck driver was not hurt.
Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot sign $50B merger deal
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot sign $50B merger dealFiat Chrysler, Peugeot sign $50B merger dealPublished: December 18, 2019, 6:23 amThe companies said in a joint statement the new group will be led by PSA's cost-cutting CEO Carlo Tavares, with Fiat Chryslerโs chairman John Elkann as chairman of the merged company. Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley will stay on, but it was not announced in what capacity.
DTE Energy to implode old Detroit power plant swapped in FCA land deal
Read full article: DTE Energy to implode old Detroit power plant swapped in FCA land dealDETROIT โ DTE Energy will demolish the old Conners Creek Power Plant in Detroit on Friday, a piece of the land exchange made with the city to make room for a new Fiat Chrysler plant. The demolition will take place via the explosive felling process, which uses strategic explosives to bring down a structure in a controlled manner, DTE Energy says. โConners Creek Power Plant played an important role in the growth of Detroit and is an integral part of DTEโs history,โ said Trevor Lauer, president and COO, DTE Electric. History of Conners Creek Power PlantConners Creek Power Plant, which came online in 1915, generated the energy needed for the City to take its hold as an industrial powerhouse. Conners Creek Power Plant has long played another important role โ as a navigational marker for both watercraft and airplanes.
Ex-Fiat Chrysler financial analyst Jerome Durden pleads guilty in scheme
Read full article: Ex-Fiat Chrysler financial analyst Jerome Durden pleads guilty in schemeANN ARBOR, Mich. โ A former Fiat Chrysler financial analyst who federal prosecutors say helped illegally funnel worker training funds over a number of years pleaded guilty in the case. Jerome Durden entered the pleas Aug. 8, 2017, in U.S. District Court in Ann Arbor to charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and failure to file a tax return. As part of a plea agreement, he faces up to 37 months in prison. Prosecutors in July 2017 announced charges. Former Fiat Chrysler executive Al Iacobelli was indicted in an alleged conspiracy involving United Auto Workers union vice president General Holiefield and Holiefieldโs wife, Monica Morgan.
UAW-FCA national contract almost complete
Read full article: UAW-FCA national contract almost completeDETROIT โ The 2019 UAW national contract with FCA is almost complete, sources tell Local 4. Local 4 Business Editor Rod Meloni has the latest update on contract discussions between Fiat Chrysler and the United Automobile Workers. The signing bonus for UAW-FCA line workers is expected to be $9,000, the same as at Ford. Unlike the Ford and GM contracts, FCA has agreed not to close any assembly or component plants that havenโt already been announced. In the end, union officials view what theyโve been able to cobble together at FCA a โpattern-plusโ contract.
Fiat Chrysler-PSA deal likely to bring fewer brands, models
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler-PSA deal likely to bring fewer brands, modelsFiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley was left without a title in the combined company. Jeffries analyst Philippe Houchois estimated that Peugeot is paying a hefty 32% premium to take control of Fiat Chrysler. "You just sort of scratch your head and go 'Oh my God, it's happening again,'" Bud Liebler, who was Chrysler's marketing chief when Daimler took over, said of the PSA deal. Tavares has ambitions of selling PSA vehicles in the U.S., but Gartner analyst Mike Ramsey said that may come by just re-labeling the vehicles as Fiat or Chrysler models. PSA and Fiat Chrysler predict savings of 3.7 billion euros ($4 billion) from the deal, which they expect to achieve without any factory closures.
Fiat Chrysler merger with PSA appears headed for approval
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler merger with PSA appears headed for approvalWith 2,640 dealers across the U.S., Fiat Chrysler would be a ready distribution network for Peugeot and other PSA vehicles. PSA even could remain separate from Fiat Chrysler brands by selling in underutilized Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealerships. There is a large overlap in the types of smaller cars and sedans built under the Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen and Opel marquees. The merger is expected to help Fiat Chrysler get closer to meeting strict emissions standards with analysts expecting PSA's electric and hybrid powertrains to help speed the transition. Fiat Chrysler, which produces four Jeep models in a joint venture with the Chinese company GAC, saw sales dropped 24% to 163,000 in 2018.
Fiat Chrysler, PSA Peugeot boards approve merger of two automakers
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler, PSA Peugeot boards approve merger of two automakersPeugeot was relatively late to the electric vehicle game but is now working fast to catch up, notably with fellow French rival Renault. With 2,640 dealers across the U.S., Fiat Chrysler would be a ready distribution network for Peugeot and other PSA vehicles. PSA even could remain separate from Fiat Chrysler brands by selling in underutilized Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealerships. There is a large overlap in the types of smaller cars and sedans built under the Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen and Opel marquees. Fiat Chrysler, which produces four Jeep models in a joint venture with the Chinese company GAC, saw sales dropped 24% to 163,000 in 2018.
Fiat Chrysler recalling nearly 160,000 diesel powered...
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler recalling nearly 160,000 diesel powered...DETROIT - Fiat Chrysler is recalling nearly 160,000 diesel powered Ram pickup trucks that could potentially catch fire. The recall covers the Ram 1500 models made from 2014 to 2019. Officials say the models may leak coolant and possibly catch fire as a result. The company urges drivers to constantly check their coolant levels and contact their dealer if the levels are consistently low. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
Fiat Chrysler employees report string of vehicle break-ins at assembly plant in Detroit
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler employees report string of vehicle break-ins at assembly plant in DetroitDETROIT - Fiat Chrysler employees said more than a dozen cars were broken into and burglarized this week. Employees at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant on Detroit's east side want to know how it happened inside a secured lot. His shift ended at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, and he and his co-workers were in shock when they found their cars had been broken into. Other employees said 15 cars were broken into in the east employee lot and another five to 10 cars were broken into in the west lot. The assembly plant had issues last year with new vehicles being stolen out of the plant and transport lot, but those thefts have been stopped.
Fiat Chrysler pays $40 million fine for lying about sales numbers
Read full article: Fiat Chrysler pays $40 million fine for lying about sales numbers(CNN) - Fiat Chrysler agreed to a $40 million fine to settle charges that it lied to investors for years about how many cars it was selling. "The SEC's order finds that [Fiat Chrysler] inflated new vehicle sales results by paying dealers to report fake vehicle sales," said the agency. "In months when the growth streak would have ended or when [Fiat Chrysler] fell short of other targets, [Fiat Chrysler] dipped into the 'cookie jar' and reported old sales as if they had just occurred." But by that summer Fiat Chrysler was confirming that it was under federal investigation for its sales reporting practices. Shares of Fiat Chrysler fell slightly in trading Friday after the fine was announced.
Ram adds 693K pickups in US to recall for tailgate problem
Read full article: Ram adds 693K pickups in US to recall for tailgate problemThe expansion covers certain Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2013 through 2018 model years that have power locking tailgates. Affected 2015 through 2017 trucks have 8-foot beds, and the affected 2013, 2014 and 2018 trucks have beds of other sizes and were built before April 1, 2018. A tailgate tab can fracture and cause the tailgates to unlatch, increasing the risk of cargo spilling onto the road. Owners of the latest batch of recalled trucks will get letters starting around Oct. 18 notifying them to take their trucks to a dealer for service. Fiat Chrysler says the recall expansions came because of reviews of customer data as it monitors vehicles in the field.
Autoworkers union takes aim at GM in contract negotiations
Read full article: Autoworkers union takes aim at GM in contract negotiationsGM and the UAW talks could be especially contentious because GM plans to shut four of its U.S. plants over the course of this year and early 2020. GM said it is working to find jobs at other plants for many of the affected hourly workers. The contracts with GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler all are set to expire at 12:01 am on Sept. 15, although now the Ford and Fiat Chrysler contracts will probably be extended as talks with GM play out. The union wants guarantees that the automakers will find vehicles to build at all their U.S. plants to keep them open. The negotiations also come as a scandal continues, in which eight people associated with the union or Fiat Chrysler pleaded guilty to federal charges of a scheme to bribe union leadership.
Feds search home of UAW president, seize documents
Read full article: Feds search home of UAW president, seize documentsThe years-long probe has already led to charges against nine people with ties to the union and Fiat Chrysler. "The UAW and President Gary Jones have always fully cooperated with the government investigators in this matter," the statement said. "President Jones is determined to uncover and address any and all wrongdoing, wherever it might lead. UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell, who once headed negotiations with Fiat Chrysler, pleaded guilty in April to accepting, arranging and approving illegal payments from Fiat Chrysler executives to high-level union officials. Fiat Chrysler Vice President for Employee Relations Alphons Iacobelli also pleaded guilty in the conspiracy, as did six others.
Oakland County construction: NB I-75 exit to Chrysler Drive to close through August
Read full article: Oakland County construction: NB I-75 exit to Chrysler Drive to close through AugustAUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The northbound I-75 exit to Chrysler Drive in Oakland County will be shut down this weekend and remain closed through the end of August, officials said. Crews will work to repair the section of road between South Boulevard and Baldwin Road. During the closure, northbound I-75 traffic will be directed to eastbound M-59 to northbound Squirrel Road to westbound Featherstone Drive to access the Chrysler facility, according to officials. The I-75 project includes repairing 21 bridges between South Boulevard and Baldwin Road in Auburn Hills. Crews will resurface both directions of I-75 between South Boulevard and Giddings Road and repair the ramps at the Chrysler Drive and M-24 interchanges.
10 years later: A look back on the automotive bankruptcy
Read full article: 10 years later: A look back on the automotive bankruptcyDETROIT - The unthinkable happened 10 years ago when Chrysler and General Motors tumbled into bankruptcy -- a fate that awaited Detroit a few years later. A little over a month later, General Motors, one of the world's most powerful companies, filed for bankruptcy June 1, 2009. He even worked at BMW in the early 1970s as executive vice president of global sales and marketing. Had Chrysler and General Motors fallen into collapse, it would have been devestating for Metro Detroit. Daniel Howes, with The Detroit News, believes the quick bankruptcy of the automakers paved the way for the city of Detroit's bankruptcy in 2013 -- the largest municipal bankruptcy in history.