Search This Site

Friday, December 27, 2019

Fiat Night Before Christmas...

Merry Christmas Fiat 500

A Fiat Christmas poem written by noted Fiat enthusiast and longtime owner, John Montgomery:

“Fiat Night Before Christmas"...

'Twas the night before Christmas, and in the service bay door, sat a tired...
old FIAT, something leaking on the floor. Its fenders were dented, the
exhaust had some holes. The seats and the carpets were eaten by moles!

The canvas top was not working, all tattered and torn. The paint was dull, all weathered and worn.
The tires were bald, the radiator leaking, a turn of the wheel sent the tie rods a-creaking.

So I put on my coat and carried my chart, went out to the bay to get it to start.
The engine turned over, but there arose such a clatter...I knew from the sound it was "multi-air" chatter.

From under the dashboard there came a bright flash, the wiring harness had just turned to ash!
“I've had it with Fiats!" I finally swore. "Enough is enough,
I can't take it anymore!"

When what to my red, teary eyes should appear, but a bi-speckled Italian in black sweater gear!

"Buon giorno," he said, poking me in the belly. "You needa my help?
It’s Sergio Marchionne, favored son of Agnelli!
This one can be saved; there's no reason to grieve.
All you need is some faith--Man, you gotta believe!”

“Sip an espresso while I roll up my sleeves, after all I saved Chrysler when no one conceived!”

"A hammer! Some duct tape! Get me more tools! When you work on these cars, you just make up-a da rules!”

We'll get her cranked over-no way that she'll stall,
but stand over there with your back behind the wall.
With a cough and a sputter, the shaking was stunning--
I couldn't believe it! The darn thing was running!

Now take it to the body shop and then over to detail,
Depreciation’s a myth, sell it for retail!

Sergio held up a glowing hot harness while kicking a tire,
"Whatever you do, DO NOT TOUCHA THIS WIRE!"

I came to Chrysler and cast my spell, no one believed I would do so well.

See all those great selling Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep brands?
It wasn’t always that way until they got in my hands.
Back in time near 2009, all of them together couldn’t make a dime.

Fiat bought Chrysler when no other brand would, then paid off the loans early just because we could.

“Fix it again Tony“ fixed them all up, yet the press will never say, “Thank goodness for Fiat, they saved the day.”

“Well I must be leaving, my work is done here. Going to see Carlo Abarth, he drives with no fear. You always hear him coming, a sound we hold dear. For gas cars will be with us as long as there’s ears.

Just one more thing before I go. One day a man named Musk will make electric cars sizzle, but with gas prices so low the movement will fizzle.”

Then the old man vanished in an unsold Dodge Dart, but when the smoke cleared he had left me some parts.

So I opened the bay door and let the top down, put pedal to the metal and peeled out of this town.

And I thought to myself as I missed second gear
Merry Christmas to All and a Happy New Year!



Fiat Santa on the way


Poem: John Montgomery
Images: Courtesy of FCA

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Fiat and Peugeot Sign Merger Agreement

The benefits of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot merging

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A. have formally agreed to merge. The two companies will combine in a 50/50 partnership headquartered in Holland and will become the 4th largest car manufacturer by volume, ahead of GM, Hyundai, Ford, and Honda. Based on 2018 numbers, the combined company had revenues of $189 billion and annual sales of 8.7 million units.

Fiat and Peugeot will become the 4th largest car company in the world.

The anticipated results of what the merger will create


Both company boards have signed the agreement, and the next phase will be getting shareholders and regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close within the next 12 - 15 months.

Population shifts towards living in Urban areas will change mobility requirements along with increased concerns of pollution from internal combustion engines.

The merger of FCA and PSA was spurred on by geographic changes showing populations shifts towards living in urban areas and forced government regulations mandating cars run on clean energy. Combining the two companies will allow them to better financially and technically meet the needs of this new era in mobility.

Upcoming European emission compliance road map. Talk of the "Green New Deal" represent significant challenges in the future the company needs to prepare for.

Enhanced innovation and development capabilities for the future.


Highlights of the FCA and Groupe PSA Merger

  • New entity will have the leadership, resources and scale to be at the forefront
    of a new era of sustainable mobility
  • Combines companies’ extensive and growing capabilities to address the challenge of shaping the new era of sustainable mobility
  • Combined company will be the 4th largest global OEM by volume and 3rd largest by revenue with annual sales of 8.7 million units and combined revenues of nearly €170 billion1
  • Creates a diversified business with among the highest margins in its core markets of Europe, North America and Latin America and the opportunity to reshape the strategy in other regions
  • Merger will deliver approximately €3.7 billion estimated annual run-rate synergies with no plant closures resulting from the transaction – synergies are expected to be net cash flow positive from year 1
  • Strong combined balance sheet and high level of liquidity provide financial flexibility with an investment grade credit rating expected
  • Combined company will leverage investment efficiency across a larger scale to develop innovative mobility solutions and cutting edge technologies in new energy vehicles, autonomous driving and connectivity
  • Broad portfolio of well-established iconic brands offering best-in-class products covering key vehicle market segments and delivering higher customer satisfaction
  • Excellent working relationship between the two management teams, which share successful track records in turnarounds, value creation and successful OEM combinations
  • Strong governance structure to underpin combined company performance with John Elkann as Group Chairman and Carlos Tavares as Group CEO, with a majority of independent directors2
  • Strong support of long-term shareholders (EXOR N.V., Peugeot Family Group, Bpifrance) who will be represented on the Board

The rational behind why FCA and PSA are merging



Below is the full merger presentation:



Read more:

Source and imagery: FCA

Monday, December 16, 2019

Fiat 500 Shift Cable Recall Announced

Fiat 500

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling an estimated 51,788 Fiat 500 models to have a shift cable bushing replaced. The models affected are just 2012-2013 Fiat 500 hatch and Cabrio models equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions.

Fiat 500 Safety Recall VB4 -Advanced Communication


Fiat 500 Automatic Shifter

Details
Some of the Fiat 500s mentioned above may have a shifter cable bushing located on the transmission end of the shifter cable that could deteriorate and then become detached from the transmission. This could result in the inability of the driver to shift the transmission, even though the driver may move the shifter.

Fiat 500 Instrument Display

It should be noted that if this happens, the actual transmission gear position will still be displayed on the instrument cluster and on the display next to the shifter. However, if these warnings are not minded, the car could move in an unintended way, and an accident could occur.

The Fix
Fiat will replace the shift cable adjuster, which contains a more robust bushing, in all of the affected vehicles.

Arrow 2 points to the Fiat 500 Automatic Transmission Cable Adjuster


Besides the 51,788 Fiat 500s affected in the United States, the company reports additional vehicles will be subject to recall in Canada (est. 10,627), Mexico (est. 3,520), and specific markets outside North America (est. 6,826).

This is all preliminary news, and the recall is estimated to launch in the 1st Quarter of 2020. Service and repair will be provided free of charge, and affected owners will be notified accordingly in the near future.

While owners await for notification, it is advised that the Fiat 500 Owner's Manual recommendation of applying the Hand Brake when parking is followed.

Fiat owners with questions or concerns may call the FCA Recall Assistance Center at 1-800-853-1403.


Source: FCA US LLC