Always improving. When it comes to auto purchases, every brand needs feedback to see what features of their vehicles are working and what needs improvement. No one ever wants to make a new purchase and see that familiar issues still have not been fixed. Quality improvement is a major area of focus for FCA US LLC and that dedication was put on display in J.D. Power’s 2018 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). FCA US LLC improved on its initial quality at a faster rate than the industry average for the third consecutive year, with Jeep® brand leading the way with more than a 10 percent growth from its IQS score last year. “We are pleased to see that the company’s initial quality improvement has outpaced the industry average for three straight years,” said Scott Garberding, Head of Quality, FCA US LLC. “We have continued to improve and we have more work to do. We are highly focused on satisfying our customers by continuing to bring new technologies and products to market, with improved quality and reliability.” J.D. Power goes through an extensive and intricate process to determine its scores and rankings. The IQS produces its results from more than 75,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2018 model-year vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership. Users included in the study complete … Read More
Month: June 2018
Drag racing, thrill rides, and celebrities. Oh my!
Racers, start your engines! Car enthusiasts and race fanatics will have the chance to be in paradise as Dodge brings drag racing and thrill-ride experiences to Pontiac, Michigan. This August, “Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge” kicks off a week-long celebration of classic vehicles and car culture in southeast Michigan. This year’s festival will feature drag racing at the 87-acre M1 Concourse, broken out into two classes, Big Tire and Small Tire. Up for grabs will be a $30,000 purse with $5,000 going to the first-place finishers in each class. And the fun does not end at the race track. Along with the drag races, attendees will get a chance to get in the passenger seat of the 707-horsepower Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger SRT® Hellcat models. Participants can either join on the M1 Concourse skid pad and go on a drift adventure in the Charger, or go to the north loop of the M1 track and see firsthand just how fast the SRT Hellcat can go. Returning fan favorite activities include dyno testing, show ‘n’ shine, flamethrower and wheelstander exhibitions, ‘Roadkill’ stunts, kidszone and more. “Last year, more than 40,000 enthusiasts celebrated performance car culture at ‘Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge’ in an epic kick off to a week of cruising events,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands … Read More
What Simple, Personal, Fair means when making your car payment
Uncomplicate. Often it’s easier said than done. But, fortunately, that’s not true anymore when it comes to making your monthly car payment to Chrysler Capital (CC). Our redesigned MyAccount will take your car-payment experience to a new level, including easier navigation, seamless payment options and an enhanced mobile experience. Chrysler Capital is a program of Santander Consumer USA and Chrysler Capital LLC. “Making it easier for our customers to make payments was our priority in redesigning MyAccount,” said Randy Bockenstedt, SC executive vice president of servicing strategy. “Our customers have too many other things going on in their lives to worry about making their car payments.” “The website redesign will simplify and significantly enhance the customer experience,” said Wayne Nightengale, executive vice president of servicing. “These changes will empower customers to maintain their accounts at a time and in a way that is most convenient for them,” Nightengale said, “providing multiple safe, secure and seamless options to make their monthly payments – and strengthening our brand.” The upgrade should be apparent from the first time customers log in to and use the new MyAccount. Easy-to-read dashboard Get an Account Summary, including Amount Due, Next Payment Due date, Account Balance, Account Maturity date and more on your easy-to-read dashboard. You want a Payoff Quote? No problem. Just click … Read More
This June, FCA US LLC is taking over the big screen
Get your popcorn ready. With the school year wrapped up and temperatures rising, the summer months always bring cinema’s biggest blockbusters. This year has already brought one of the highest-grossing movies of all time in The Avengers: Infinity War followed by the Star Wars origin story extravaganza, Solo. Even more big-budget popcorn films are set to release in June, with two of them being cornerstone franchises from major studios that have recently highlighted FCA US LLC vehicles. The Incredibles 2 America’s favorite family of superheroes returns in the sequel to the 2004 megahit, The Incredibles. In The Incredibles 2, the second Disney Pixar installment picks up right where the original left off with Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, alongside their children Violet, Dash, and toddler Jack-Jack, coming off their first superhero victory as a family. As they move forward, Elastigirl is getting recruited for more world-saving rescue missions, and it’s up to Mr. Incredible to look after all three kids while she’s gone. Of course, when one of your kids is shooting laser beams out of his eyes, that may not be the easiest job. When it comes to preventing chaos among the youngsters, there may be no better option than the Chrysler Pacifica, as shown in the cross-branded ads for both the film and FCA US LLC brand. As Edna … Read More
Driverless cars? FCA US LLC may be bringing them to the public
One step closer. Imagine booking a ride from a transportation service. A couple of minutes pass, then your ride arrives to pick you up. When you open the door, you discover that no one is occupying the steering wheel. You step into the back seat and you’re off to your destination, watching the pedal accelerate and steering wheel move with no one in the driver’s seat. Pretty futuristic, right? This scenario may come to fruition in 2018. While news and aspirations of driverless cars has picked up in recent years, FCA US LLC and Waymo, a self-driving technology company, are getting closer to making the dream a reality. Building on the commitment they made this past January, FCA US LLC will provide up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo’s self-driving fleet. These minivans will help Waymo launch the world’s first self-driving transportation service to the public later this year. Through this service, users will be able to download Waymo’s app and request a driverless vehicle. More so, the two companies began discussions about using Waymo self-driving technology in an FCA US LLC-manufactured vehicle available for customers to purchase. “FCA US LLC is committed to bringing self-driving technology to our customers in a manner that is safe, efficient and realistic,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles … Read More
What’s the better family car: Ram 1500 or Chrysler Pacifica?
What do you look for in a family vehicle? When it comes to choosing a vehicle to carry your whole household, different aspects come into play. Features you have may found important in a previous time may evolve a bit after the first time you install a car seat. Even so, the desires of families when it comes to choosing a vehicle can perfectly align or wildly vary. The variance was put on display when the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) put on its Family Car Challenge. Journalists took various manufacturers’ vehicles on a spin, driving suburban routes around The Hotel at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia, and evaluating them by several family-oriented categories. “The GAAMA Family Car Challenge is unique in that we host the only vehicle competition specific to the needs and desires of today’s families,” said Daryl Killian, GAAMA president and host of The AutoNsider on News & Talk 1380 WAOK, an Entercom Radio Station based in Atlanta. The challenge turned into a head-to-head competition pitting two FCA US LLC brand vehicles against one another: the 2019 Ram 1500 and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Hybrid edition. While both can make for a perfect road trip vessel, on the surface the two vehicles seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Ram 1500 powers in with … Read More
High school students create the next great Jeep® Wrangler in the FCA US LLC Drive for Design Contest
If you could design your very own car, what would you do? Would there be specific aspects you’d put a spotlight on or features you’d want to make more important than others? What things do you think a car must have in order to grab a potential customer’s attention? FCA US LLC presented those questions, among others, to high school students around the country for its 2018 Drive for Design contest. The FCA US LLC Product Design Office partnered with EyesOn Design, a not-for-profit corporation benefitting the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, and Lawrence Technological University, to challenge U.S. high school students in grades 10-12 to design the ultimate Jeep® brand vehicle. The model? A 2030 Jeep® Wrangler. Finalist’s entries were judged according to a weighted criteria: Craftsmanship (25 percent), Design Quality (25 percent), Illustration (25 percent) and Originality (25 percent). “Six years ago, we created the Drive for Design contest to create awareness about the various career paths available in automotive design. We wanted to connect with young artists early in their curriculum and help guide them in the right direction to begin a career in automotive design,” said Mark Trostle, Head of Performance, Passenger Car and Utility Vehicle Design, FCA – North America. “The creative perspective on all this year’s submissions were inventive and exceptional as you could truly … Read More