Tag Archives: fca

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<img data-attachment-id="1776420" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups/2019-ram-2500-hd/" data-orig-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-5.png" data-orig-size="1420,937" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2019 Ram 2500 HD" data-image-description="

Ram

" data-medium-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-2.png" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups.png" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1776420" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups.png" alt width="610" height="403" srcset="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups.png 610w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-1.png 75w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-2.png 450w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-3.png 768w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-4.png 120w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nhtsa-investigating-rams-diesel-pickups-5.png 1420w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px">

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into nearly 605,000 heavy-duty Ram trucks. A report from the regulator’s Office of Defects Investigation has tabulated 22 complaints from the 2019 and 2020 model years, all of which use 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engines, spurring the NHTSA to launch a formal investigation. Complaints revolve around loss of motive power, with most incidents occurring above 25 mph and resulting in the “permanent disablement of the vehicle.”

While the public was not made aware of the investigation until Monday, the agency launched its probe last Thursday on October 14th. The goal will be to establish how widespread the presumed defect is, what exactly caused it, and any potential safety hazards relating to the issue. Some headway has already been made, however. 

Back in 2019, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) issued Warranty Bulletin D-19-02 to dealers. The memo requested stores participate in a campaign to “collect, monitor and correct quality issues” on certain MY 2018-2020 Ram trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins. The NHTSA’s action summary states that this resulted in FCA and an unnamed supplier collecting and inspecting high-pressure fuel pumps.

Vehicles under suspicion include all Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 HD pickups from the 2019-2020 MY. The NHTSA plans on looking into the trucks to determine whether or not it needs to press Stellantis to launch a recall. That means asking the manufacturer to give its take on the situation while it compiles warranty claims, injury reports, and whatever FCA previously had on those suspect fuel pumps.

Regulators have been incredibly hard on diesel vehicles ever since Volkswagen’s emissions scandal upended the industry in 2015. While a part of me wants to believe the NHTSA just has it out for Ram’s HD lineup (since a few have asked), it seems far more plausible that this was a standard, shrug-your-shoulders defect. Selective environmental regulations have made diesels cost more as they’ve gradually amassed a bevy of pollutant controlling hardware while also complicating powertrains to a point that has lessened their overall effectiveness. But the impact this has had on their reliability is less obvious and may have nothing to do with a bunch of subpar fuel pumps.

Let’s face it, U.S. regulators haven’t been shy about hitting manufacturers with emissions-focused recalls backed by the Environmental Protection Agency and/or California Air Resources Board in the past. If they wanted to chide Cummins or FCA/Stellantis over pollution, they could have done so overtly.

Stellantis has said it plans on cooperating with the NHTSA fully, launching an investigation of its own for good measure. So we should have some answers soon, including the name of the supplier. In the meantime, you might want to keep a closer eye on how your HD Ram is running if it falls under the purview of the investigation.

[Image: Stellantis]

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<img data-attachment-id="1774900" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-3/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-3.png" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1971 Maserati Quattroporte 3" data-image-description="

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

" data-medium-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-6.png" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan.png" class="aligncenter wp-image-1774900 size-large" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan.png" alt width="610" height="343" srcset="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan.png 610w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-5.png 75w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-6.png 450w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-7.png 768w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-8.png 120w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-9.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px">Today’s Rare Ride was one of just two finished examples of the ill-fated second generation Maserati Quattroporte. Maserati envisioned a promising future for their large luxury sedan, but the company’s corporate parentage at the time had other (worse) ideas.

And this very car was fit for a king.

Maserati produced its first-generation Quattroporte from 1963 to 1969, a very early example of a brand new class of car: the high-performance grand touring sedan. With a large engine at the front and lots of leather in the middle, it was one of three Sixties sedans from Europe able to meet a 200 kph (124 mph) top speed.

<img data-attachment-id="1774898" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-4/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-4.png" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1971 Maserati Quattroporte 4" data-image-description="

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

" data-medium-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-11.png" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-1.png" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774898" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-1.png" alt width="610" height="343" srcset="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-1.png 610w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-10.png 75w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-11.png 450w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-12.png 768w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-13.png 120w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-14.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px">By the end of the Sixties, the original Quattroporte styling was looking fairly dated. Karim Aga Khan wanted a fresher Quattroporte and ordered up a bespoke sedan. Maserati set to work and built a new four-door on the Indy’s platform. Exterior design was handed to Frua, as the first-gen model was penned by Pietro himself. The new Quattroporte used Maserati’s 4.9-liter V8, good for 296 horsepower. Said power traveled to the rear wheels via an unspecified automatic transmission.

<img data-attachment-id="1774896" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-5/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-5.png" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1971 Maserati Quattroporte 5" data-image-description="

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

" data-medium-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-16.png" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-2.png" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774896" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-2.png" alt width="610" height="343" srcset="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-2.png 610w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-15.png 75w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-16.png 450w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-17.png 768w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-18.png 120w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-19.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px">The car was production-ready by 1971 and was displayed that year at the Paris Motor Show. Maserati knew there was a market for the new Quattroporte, and sealed its production fate with a new chassis code: AM121. But Maserati’s product plans were no longer their own to dictate, as the company’s ownership had passed from the Orsi family to Citroën in 1968.

<img data-attachment-id="1774904" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-2/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-2.png" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1971 Maserati Quattroporte 2" data-image-description="

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

" data-medium-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-21.png" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-3.png" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774904" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-3.png" alt width="610" height="343" srcset="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-3.png 610w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-20.png 75w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-21.png 450w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-22.png 768w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-23.png 120w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-24.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px">Citroën took a look at the very Italian and ready-to-go AM121, and said “Mais non, you will not build this car.” The French brass pressed Maserati to move on in a different direction with Quattroporte – a front-drive direction. The basis for the newly-ordered Quattroporte II (AM123) would be Citroën’s own SM luxury coupe. That one was a big flop but we’ll discuss it in another Rare Rides.

<img data-attachment-id="1774906" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte.png" data-orig-size="1645,1013" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1971 Maserati Quattroporte" data-image-description="

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

" data-medium-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-26.png" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-4.png" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774906" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-4.png" alt width="610" height="376" srcset="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-4.png 610w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-25.png 75w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-26.png 450w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-27.png 768w, http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-28.png 120w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px">In the end, only two examples of the AM121 Quattroporte were finished. Aga Khan received his (chassis number 004) in 1974. The other finished example was chassis number 002, completed in 1971 and retained by Frua. Frua sold it fairly quickly to the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. The king’s blue over tan AM121 goes to auction in November at Le Castellet, wherever that is.

Note: Images in this article are of the later 004 chassis, as they were the only ones publicly available for use.

[Images: YouTube]

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<img data-attachment-id="1757954" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/jeep-is-thrilled-with-15000-japanese-customers/shutterstock_1185723298/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/shutterstock_1185723298-e1617736105960.jpg" data-orig-size="3013,2001" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="jeep logo jeep badge jeep grille" data-image-description="

NeydtStock/Shutterstock

" data-medium-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/shutterstock_1185723298-450x299.jpg" data-large-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jeep-is-thrilled-with-15000-japanese-customers.jpg" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757954" src="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jeep-is-thrilled-with-15000-japanese-customers.jpg" alt width="610" height="405">

American automotive brands have never really caught on with the typical Japanese consumer. While we’ve done numerous dives trying to understand why the gist is that our tastes don’t typically overlap and they generally prefer to buy domestic. Foreign marques are comparatively rare, frequently German, and are generally owned by those looking to flex their status with an imported luxury vehicle.

U.S. brands that were on the market began retreating as they began pulling smaller automobiles from their lineup. But Jeep has stuck it in there and things are reportedly beginning to pay off. The automaker’s distinctive styling seems to be resonating with people in Asia and it’s really the only historically American nameplate that’s managed to find an audience in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Fiat Chrysler Japan has yet to finalize arrangements to be fully integrated into the new Stellantis NV and a part of us wonders if that has anything to do with its rosy reporting. There’s a decent chance Groupe PSA didn’t want to keep Jeep operating within the region and it would behoove the brand to show it has merit before its Japanese offices run the risk of being shut down. It’s a wholly speculative scenario but not unrealistic and exactly what I would be doing in Jeep’s shoes.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, FCA Japan sales boss Hitoshi Ushikubo stated that Jeep deliveries are on pace to eclipse 15,000 units this year. While that’s less product than the company shifts in the U.S. over the average week, it still represents consistent growth in a market that never seemed interested in American (or French-Italian-American) automobiles.

From Bloomberg:

Despite the pandemic, Jeep’s Japan sales notched a 1.7 percent increase in 2020 to reach a record level for a seventh consecutive year.

“We’ve made efforts to fit with the Japanese market” by rolling out cars with right-hand drive, unlike General Motors and Ford, Ushikubo said. “Young people are looking for cars that allow them to present a part of their character,” he said, adding that a strong social media presence has also helped the brand.

Jeep sold 1,925 cars in March, 36 percent higher than the same month of 2020, which was impacted by COVID-19, with the Wrangler and Renegade marques the most popular, according to a statement Tuesday. Jeep ranked third last year among imported SUV brands in Japan.

While the Wrangler and Renegade are the brand’s most popular models in the region by far, Jeep offers other models in Japan. That’s arguably an achievement in itself. Most American automakers operating on the island typically limit themselves to a few specialty vehicles catering to a niche market and don’t have dedicated dealerships. Jeep has been far more ambitious and is even seeking to expand. According to Fiat Chrysler Japan CEO Pontus Häggström, the corporate strategy involves swelling its network of 80 dealerships to at least 100 by 2023.

While we don’t know if that’s going to make the brand a cash cow, Stellantis would be foolish not to identify the importance of Jeep in Asia. Younger drivers really seem to be gravitating toward the brand and it accounts for over half of group sales within the region. That’s a very big deal, made colossal by the fact that American brands were assumed incapable of breaking into the Japanese market. But how was this accomplished?

Jeep has claimed its success has everything to do with offering a desirable product not available elsewhere and actively catering to Japanese customers. Those Renegade sales aren’t a coincidence. Knowing the model’s diminutive stature would make it an ideal product for the market, Jeep started producing them in right-hand-drive, modifying their engines to cater to the local emission incentives, making sure the infotainment system was available in flawless Japanese and tossing them into region-focused marketing campaigns. The resulting efforts have made it the default American brand in the region. Jeep outsells every other American automotive brand by such a wide margin that they might as well not even be there.

But will Stellantis be appreciative of its modest growth?

[Image: NeydtStock/Shutterstock]

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Unifor President Jerry Dias secured a new deal with $1.2 billion in new investment.

Members of Unifor ratified a new three-year labor contract with Fiat Chrysler that includes a $1.2 billion investment that expected to lead to 2,000 additional jobs FCA Windsor Assembly plant as well as new work for the company assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, and a casting plant Etobicoke, Ontario.

The contract covers more than 9,000 Unifor members employed by FCA in Canada.

“This agreement solidifies and builds on FCA’s footprint, with a game-changing investment of up to $1.2 billion for a state-of-the-art platform to build both plug–in hybrid vehicles and battery-electric vehicles, along with a $40 million investment to bring multiple derivatives of the Dodge Charger and Challenger to the Brampton plant where production of the Chrysler 300 is being extended,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

(FCA, Unifor reach agreement on new deal, averting strike.)

“The commitments we have secured in these negotiations will stabilize FCA’s operations in Canada and position us as a global leader in the transition to zero emission vehicle production.”

FCA’s Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant is going to get a new electric vehicle to build.

Fiat Chrysler forecasts the return of the third shift in Windsor by 2024, adding as many as 2,000 jobs along with $14 million investment at the Etobicoke Casting Plant, and a 22% increase in the hourly workforce where the work force had dwindled to 100 from 500 in the past four years.

“Workers who have feared plant closures and job losses in recent years can now look forward to a bright future with good jobs for years to come,” said Dias.

FCA, in a separate statement, confirmed the basic content of the contract and said they expected both the Ontario provincial government and Canada federal government to help finance the renovation in Windsor, which will turn the plant into a hub of EV production, matching those at new EV plant under development by General Motors and Ford on the other side of the Detroit River in the U.S.

(Unifor vows to fight FCA plan to cut third shift in Windsor.)

“FCA has maintained a strong footprint in Canada for nearly a century. Over the last decade, we have invested over $4 billion in our Canadian manufacturing facilities, more than any other OEM in the country and it is our intention to maintain this leadership,” said Mark Stewart, chief operating officer, FCA North America.

The company plans to invest $40 million in its Brampton, Ontario.

“This agreement bolsters our global competitiveness and positions us for future growth with new product investment and new jobs, while also demonstrating our commitment to our employees, their families and the communities we represent,” he added.

Stewart said working in collaboration with Unifor, as well as both the federal and provincial governments, FCA has committed to install a new multi-energy vehicle architecture, including plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicle capability, and at least one new model on that architecture at its Windsor Assembly Plant.

(Unifor members ratify new Ford labor pact.)

The additional investments Brampton Assembly, which will produce three new variants of the popular Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger muscle cars, in addition to continuing production of the Chrysler 300, while Etobicoke Casting Plant will receive two new products FCA’s transport operation also will receive $14.3 million in equipment upgrades, FCA said.

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Image: Ram

So you just bought your 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. You’ve got a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the Hellcat underhood, making 702 horsepower. You’re ready to take on the desert, if not the world.

Yet, you have no frickin’ clue what a certain infotainment-system setting does. You’re stumped. You’ve dove into the owner’s manual and the dry prose has you flummoxed and the index is no help. What’s a truck owner to do?

Pickup your phone, fire up your app store – whichever ecosystem you’re in – and download an augmented reality app that will use your camera to explain to you what you need to know.

Just use the app to point your phone camera at the part of the vehicle that you want to learn about, and the app will use augmented reality to identify the part and explain to you what it does/how it works/how to use it.

Oh, and it’s called Know & Go. Just like Stow & Go.

“We created the Know & Go app as a way for customers to interact with and learn about their vehicles throughout their ownership lifecycle and personal experiences,” said Carolina Harris, Feature Innovation Manager – FCA, and co-creator of Know & Go, in a statement.

Image: Ram

“With all of the content on the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, the Know & Go mobile app highlights the many new features and capabilities our customers will enjoy in a creative, exciting and engaging way,” said Mimi Nguyen, Propulsion Systems Program Manager, Product Development – FCA and co-creator of Know & Go, in a statement.

The app came to life as part of an FCA internal process in which FCA employees submitted 500 ideas. Those were whittled down to 50, then 14. Those 14 were then pitched to a panel of judges involving company executives, including FCA CEO Mike Manley.

[Images: Ram]