Tag: FCA

Jeep and Ram diesels, Cadillac electrics, MyChevy updates, Audi chargers: Today’s Car News

Sketch for proposed Volkswagen electric off-road SUV
GM announced a major restructuring that will result in more electric cars, with Cadillac as its focus. Fiat Chrysler will fix its dirty Ram pickup and Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesels. And Audi has partnered with Amazon to get home chargers installed for its e-tron customers. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

In a settlement reminiscent of Volkswagen's, owners of EcoDiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram pickups will be offered cash along with a free software update to bring their vehicles into compliance with emissions laws.

GM made a major announcement that it plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup and convert Cadillac to an electric brand.

In the meantime, the company is trying to make life easier for Chevy Bolt EV owners by bringing live information on charger availability from ChargePoint, EVgo, and Greenlots to the MyChevy app.

And Audi plans to have Amazon sell and coordinate installation of chargers for its line of e-tron electric vehicles.

Volkswagen poached an engineer from Apple's Titan self-driving-car effort to head its own commercial self-driving and mobility services programs.

Finally, VW may be planning to build an electric off-road SUV as part of its new ID lineup of electric vehicles.

_______________________________________

Follow Green Car Reports on Facebook and Twitter

No buybacks: FCA settlement for Ram pickup, Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel owners

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, Bear Mountain, May 2014
In a case involving diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram pickups from 2014 to 2016, Fiat-Chrysler has entered into a settlement remarkably similar to the Volkswagen diesel settlement.

The big difference is that Fiat-Chrysler won't buy back any trucks or SUVs, because all the vehicles are capable of being brought into compliance with emissions requirements by updating their software, says class-action settlement administrator Elizabeth Cabraser.

In the class action settlement, owners, of 2014 to 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram EcoDiesels will receive up to $3,075 in compensation for buying the trucks that did not live up to their “EcoDiesel” labels. Lessees and former owners can receive payments of up to $990.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, New York City, Jan 2014

The settlement amounts are designed to compensate owners for the cost of the “diesel premium” they paid for their cars above what a comparably equipped gas-powered model would have cost.

Owners will also receive limited extended warranties of up to 10 years/120,000 miles from the original date of purchase of 4 years/48,000 miles from the date they get their car's emissions software updated.

To receive the settlement, owners will have to take their vehicles back to a Jeep or Ram dealer to have the software updated to clean up their emissions of nitrogen oxides, a major contributor to smog.

DON'T MISS: Fiat Chrysler to end diesel engines in cars by 2022 (but not trucks): report

Former owners and lessees will be eligible for lower settlement amounts.

Cabraser, says the software update is not expected to affect either the vehicle's performance or fuel economy.

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

Under the settlement decree, FCA is required to repair at least 85 percent of the vehicles or face fines of $6,000 per vehicle that isn't repaired.

The settlement, and the fix, apply to 2014 to 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram 1500 pickups with the 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesels. It does not apply to a different emissions recall for larger Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups with a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel inline-6.

CHECK OUT: Cummins issues diesel emissions recall larger than VW's

In addition, the FCA will pay $400 million in criminal fines with the U.S. Justice Department and California's office of the Attorney General as well as civil penalties to the EPA and the California Air Resources Board and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (since the engines were imported.)

The settlement affects about 100,000 vehicles, far fewer than the 500,000-plus Volkswagen affected by in that company's diesel emissions scandal. FCA has set aside $800 million to settle the claims.

The company will also pay $19 million to California to support other emissions mitigation efforts in the state.

READ THIS: 300K bought-back VW diesels are decaying in 37 lots as it waits for … what?

Bosch, a German automotive supplier which provided the original emission software is also contributing to the settlement.

Even as it agrees to the settlement, Fiat Chrysler claims that it did not deliberately scheme to install defeat devices to cheat emissions tests and it makes no admission of guilt regarding the charges.

“We acknowledge that this has created uncertainty for our customers, and we believe this resolution will maintain their trust in us,” said Mark Chernoby, FCA’s head of North American safety and regulatory compliance.

READ MORE: VW TDI owners face deadline to finalize claims (Updated)

Authorities are targeting mid-May for the software update to be available, as the settlement still requires final approval by the court. Once it receives that approval, existing EcoDiesel owners will have 18 months to file claims and former owners will have 90 days.

Volkswagen wrapped up its settlement for 2.0-liter TDIs at the end of the year. Its vehicles (primarily Audis) equipped with 3.0-liter diesel V-6s has been released but those owners still have until Aug. 31 to submit their claims. A class action suit has also been filed against Mercedes-Benz over emissions from some of its Bluetec diesel-equipped cars, but it has not been accepted by a court.

Bosch reaches settlements with 50 U.S. States and Territories as well as with U.S. civil plaintiffs with regard to diesel vehicles

NOTES FOR EDITORS: Bosch in the sense of the settlementsRobert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC are parties to the settlements. Volkswagen in the sense of the settlement entered into with the U.S. statesThe term “Volkswagen” in the settlement refers to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Audi of America, LLC, Volkswagen… Continue reading Bosch reaches settlements with 50 U.S. States and Territories as well as with U.S. civil plaintiffs with regard to diesel vehicles

Statement: Air-bag Inflators

January 10, 2019 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace passenger-side air-bag inflators that may, on deployment, send shrapnel into the vehicle cabin. The Company is unaware of any injuries or accidents associated this vehicle population.   The defect is linked to temperature cycling, humidity… Continue reading Statement: Air-bag Inflators

Fiat Chrysler settles with US over diesel emissions cheating

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni Fiat Chrysler is about to pay a stiff penalty for its alleged diesel vehicle emissions cheating. The automaker has reached a settlement with the Justice Department, EPA and California that will see it make amends for claimed violations of the country’s Clean Air Act. It’s launching a recall to fix the more… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler settles with US over diesel emissions cheating

UPDATE 1-Germany’s Bosch to pay $131 mln to settle U.S. diesel emissions claims

FILE PHOTO: Werner Struth, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, watches a video during a Bosch news conference at the 2017 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., January 4, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Marcus WASHINGTON (Reuters) – German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH [ROBG.UL] will pay around $131 million to settle claims from… Continue reading UPDATE 1-Germany’s Bosch to pay $131 mln to settle U.S. diesel emissions claims

UPDATE 1-Fiat Chrysler agrees to U.S. diesel-emissions settlement worth nearly $800 mln

FILE PHOTO: A Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) sign is seen at its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to pay close to $800 million to settle claims from the U.S. Justice Department and California relating to allegations it used… Continue reading UPDATE 1-Fiat Chrysler agrees to U.S. diesel-emissions settlement worth nearly $800 mln

FCA will keep Jeep Wrangler production in Toledo – The Detroit News

Michael Martinez and Melissa Burden, The Detroit News Published 1:48 p.m. ET Sept. 1, 2015 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will keep building the Jeep Wrangler in Toledo (Photo: Detroit News file photo) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will keep building the Jeep Wrangler in Toledo, according to a union representative who was briefed on the automaker’s… Continue reading FCA will keep Jeep Wrangler production in Toledo – The Detroit News

Top Automotive Industry News for Week of December 17 – December 23, 2018

Here is the most important news associated with the automotive industry
identified by the AEA for the week of December 17, 2018 – December 23,
2018.

We hope it helps you stay up to speed on the key developments in our
industry:

-AEA Membership News-

The next AEA Members Reception will be held on Thursday January 24th,
2019 in San Francio. Invitations have been sent to all current AEA
Members. Annual AEA Member Dues renewal will occur on January 2 nd, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact
memberservices@automotiveexecutives.com

-Automotive Manufacturing News–Automotive Manufacturing News-

Carlos Ghosn vows to 'restore my honor' in first remarks since arrest

(autoblog)

Ford's New Truck-like Explorer SUV To Debut Jan. 9 Ahead Of Detroit
Auto Show

(Forbes)

General Motors hints it could negotiate a way to keep one or more
plants open

(CNBC)

German automakers BMW, Daimler stand to benefit the most if China cuts
US auto tariffs

(CNBC)

Ghosn Rearrested, Now Faces 20 Years in Prison

(Forbes)

GM gets thousands of holiday letters about plant closings

(Detroit Free Press)

IIHS Unveils Top Safety Pick Plus Models for 2019

(The Detroit Bureau)

In the Switch to Electric Vehicles, Expect a Few Giants to Crash

(Bloomberg)

Jeep Wrangler plant uses rotisserie to crank out SUVs

(Detroit Free Press)

Nissan to lay off 1,000 Mexican workers, citing market challenges

(autoblog)

Tesla Survived Manufacturing Hell–Now Comes The Hard Part

(Forbes)

UAW scandal sending union's ex-No. 2 in Fiat Chrysler Department to
prison

(Detroit Free Press)

-Automotive Evolution News-

Daimler, BMW Get U.S. Approval for Mobility Company

(The Detroit Bureau)

How electric cars are slowly moving from niche to something 'people
want to buy'

(CNBC)

Laser Vision Upstart Luminar Reveals Self-Driving Tech Alliance With
Audi's AID Unit

(Forbes)

NHTSA Moves to Accelerate Autonomous Vehicle Petitions

(The Detroit Bureau)

Self-driving bill hits dead end in U.S. Senate

(The Detroit News)

The Year Of The Scooter: The Good, The Bad, And The Road Ahead

(Forbes)

Uber's self-driving cars are back on the road, nine months after a
fatal accident

(CNBC)

Zoox Inc. Snags First California Permit To Transport Passengers In
Self-Driving Cars

(NPR)

-Automotive Retail News-

Beating Predictions, 2018 New Car Sales to Surpass 2017 Results

(The Detroit Bureau)

CarMax's stock drops after earnings beat, but used car sales miss

(MarketWatch)

Fed Raises Interest Rate, Lowers Growth Forecast

(Auto Dealer)

Shopping for a new car? Buy before the Fed rate hike affects car loans

(MarketWatch)

Study: Dealers Overspend on Marketing

(Auto Dealer)

U.S. auto sales seen falling 1% in December, say J.D. Power, LMC

(autoblog)

-Automotive Wholesale News-

Car Values at Auction Continue Decline at Year's End

(Vehicle Remarketing)

-Automotive Ownership News-

'Dramatic drops' in gas prices: Less-than-$2 gas is here for many
American motorists

(USA Today)

-Automotive Enthusiast News-

In a blatant attempt to pull at our heart strings, Chevrolet is
offering an in-car Santa tracker

(CNBC)

The most amazing classic car stories of 2018

(FOX News)

-Automotive Servicing News-

Citing Fire Danger Ford Recalls 410,000 Pickups

(Forbes)

Report: 16.7M faulty Takata air bags still on US roads

(The Detroit News)

The Biggest and Smallest Automotive Recalls of 2018

(Car and Driver)

Tesla Model S catches fire in California town: Fire Department

(CNBC)

-General Business & Executive News-

ACV Auctions continues rapid disruption of $100B wholesale automotive
industry

(PR Newswire)

Car rental company Fair raises $385 million in SoftBank-led funding
round

(Reuters)

CU Direct's credit union network leads in auto loan originations

(Automotive News)

The real problem with the American auto industry

(CNN)

U.S. third-quarter growth trimmed; business spending slowing

(Reuters)

-AEA Reminder-

Did we miss something? Let us know via our

Contact Us Page >>

. If you have specific important news going public soon that you would like
to share with your fellow AEA Members, submit your

PR Distribution Request >>

Have a great week,

Member Services

memberservices@automotiveexecutives.com

Automotive Executives Association

www.automotiveexecutives.com