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Canadian Auto News Watch - Tuesday October 14, 2014
General Motors Corporate News
GM defect now linked to 27 deaths; US$400M set aside
Byline: Jessica Dye, Source: Reuters, Page: FP11, Edition: National
National Post - Tue Oct 14 2014
GM ignition-switch death toll reaches 27, attorney says
Note: Also in Edmonton Journal.
Source: The Associated Press, Page: B1 / Front, Edition: Early
Windsor Star - Tue Oct 14 2014
Attorney says death toll from GM ignition switches now stands at 27; GM ignition
switch deaths rise to 27
Canadian Press - Mon Oct 13 2014
GM issues recalls affecting 60,575 cars
Byline: NICK TRAGIANIS, Source: The Gazette, Page: B17, Edition: Early
Montreal Gazette - Tue Oct 14 2014
2014 Cadillac ELR customers to get free fast charger
Byline: Nauman Farooq, Source: AutoGo.ca, Page: E19
The Telegram (St. John's) - Sat Oct 11 2014
Corvette's Valet Mode could be illegal
Byline: Charles Jolicoeur, Source: AutoGo.ca, Page: E19
The Telegram (St. John's) - Sat Oct 11 2014
Riding along with Big Brother
Byline: Kumar Saha, Page: W4, Edition: ONT
Toronto Star - Sat Oct 11 2014
Ram not expected to go aluminum anytime soon
Byline: Nick Tragianis, Source: Postmedia News, Page: C2, Edition: Final
The Province - Tue Oct 14 2014
U.S., Canadian auto sales expected to stay strong
Byline: GREG KEENAN, Page: B3, Edition: Ontario
The Globe and Mail - Tue Oct 14 2014
USED CAR CRUNCH; Shortage of off-lease vehicles tied to recession crimps supply,
sends prices higher
Byline: GREG KEENAN, Page: B1, Edition: Ontario
The Globe and Mail - Mon Oct 13 2014
September, another month of growth in car sales
Byline: Charles Jolicoeur, Source: AutoGo.ca, Page: E22
The Telegram (St. John's) - Sat Oct 11 2014
Fiat Chrysler makes its U.S. debut; Analysts see risks
Byline: Agnieszka Flak and Jeffrey Dastin, Source: Reuters, Page: FP13, Edition: All_but_Toronto
National Post - Tue Oct 14 2014
Column: Finally, auto nuptials; Merged Fiat Chrysler Automobiles debuts in New York
as it embarks on four-year plan
Byline: Kristine Owram, Source: Financial Post, Page: FP3, Edition: National
National Post - Sat Oct 11 2014
Fiat Chrysler shares hit the market; Newly merged automaker's stocks close first
trading day just below where they began
Note: Also in Windsor Star, Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Hamilton Spectator.
Byline: The Associated Press, Page: S8, Edition: ONT
Toronto Star - Tue Oct 14 2014
Sergio Marchionne rebuilds Fiat Chrysler at 200 m.p.h.; The transatlantic marriage of
two struggling regional carmakers will probably be the capstone of his career
Byline: David Rocks And Tommaso Ebhardt, Source: Bloomberg, Page: A5, Edition: Early
Windsor Star - Sat Oct 11 2014
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General Motors Product News
We drove 'em, towed with 'em and even hauled with 'em
Byline: Jil McIntosh, Page: W14, Edition: ONT
Toronto Star - Sat Oct 11 2014
GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado fill the mid-size pickup void; Two-mid-sizers look to
revitalize a moribund segment
Byline: JEREMY SINEK
globeandmail.com - Sat Oct 11 2014, 6:00am ET
PLACE AUX CAMIONNETTES COMPACTES ; RETOUR DU COLORADO ET CANYON
Byline: JACQUES DESHAIES, Page: A10, Edition: final
Le Journal de Québec - Sun Oct 12 2014
PICK-UP: LES MEILLEURS DE 2015
Byline: VINCENT NOËL, Page: A3, Edition: final
Le Journal de Montréal - Sun Oct 12 2014
2015 Chevrolet Suburban; Day 4 - Autos.ca
Permalink: www.autos.ca...
autos.ca - Tue Oct 14 2014
CHEVROLET EN 2015: DU MUSCLE COMME JAMAIS
Byline: ALAIN MCKENNA, Page: A12, Edition: final
Le Journal de Québec - Sun Oct 12 2014
2014 GMC Terrain - Autos.ca
Permalink: www.autos.ca...
autos.ca - Tue Oct 14 2014
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe - Wheels.ca
Permalink: www.wheels.ca...
wheels.ca - Tue Oct 14 2014
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe - The Car Guide
Permalink: www.guideautoweb.com...
guideautoweb.com - Tue Oct 14 2014
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Lifestyle/Social
North Star | CAA Magazine
Permalink: www.caamagazine.ca...
caamagazine.ca - Fri Oct 10 2014
CTV Morning Live Winnipeg for Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 | CTV Winnipeg News
Permalink: winnipeg.ctvnews.ca...
winnipeg.ctvnews.ca - Fri Oct 10 2014
Chevrolet Hockey Helmet Program | Breakfast Television Winnipeg
Permalink: www.btwinnipeg.ca...
btwinnipeg.ca - Fri Oct 10 2014
Olympic gold-medallist works to build concussion awareness | Watch News Videos
Online
Permalink: globalnews.ca...
globalnews.ca - Fri Oct 10 2014
Travel Canada: Yukon strikes all the right notes | Toronto Star
Note: Also published in newspaper September 13, 2014.
Permalink: www.thestar.com...
thestar.com - Fri Oct 10 2014
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Safe & Sure
SNAP North Toronto - Safe And Sure Child Car Seat Installation Workshop
Permalink: www.snapnorthtoronto.com...
snapnorthtoronto.com - Mon Oct 13 2014
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General Motors Corporate News
GM defect now linked to 27 deaths; US$400M set aside
National Post
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: FP11
Section: Financial Post
Byline: Jessica Dye
Dateline: NEW YORK
Source: Reuters
A program to compensate victims of a faulty ignition switch in General Motors Co. vehicles has approved three
new death claims, bringing the total number of deaths linked so far to the switch to 27, according to a report
released on Monday by the lawyer overseeing the program.
Since it began accepting claims on Aug. 1, the program has received a total of 1,371 claims for deaths and
injuries, according to the report by the office of Kenneth Feinberg, who GM has tapped to run the program. The
report listed all of the claims received and approved as of Friday.
GM has faced criticism this year for waiting 11 years to begin recalling millions of cars with ignition-switch
problems that were linked to fatalities.
The switch can slip out of position, stalling the vehicle and disabling air bags, and the defect led to the recall of
2.6 million vehicles earlier this year.
So far, 52 claims have been deemed eligible for compensation, including the 27 deaths and 25 injuries, the
report showed.
Overall, the number of claims received for injuries and deaths was up more than 21% from 1,130 last week,
according to the report. The rise is attributable in part to 13 new death claims, bringing the total number of
death claims received by the automaker to 178, and to a continuing uptick in the number of claims for less
serious injuries - those that require hospitalization but do not cause serious permanent damage - from 886 to
1,108.
The program will continue to receive applications until Dec. 31 on behalf of individuals injured or killed in
accidents they say were caused by the switch problem.
GM has given Mr. Feinberg, who has overseen compensation programs for high-profile catastrophes such as
the 9/11 attacks and Deepwater Horizon oil spill, free rein to determine eligibility criteria under the program and
to approve or reject claims. The amount of compensation has not been capped, but GM has set aside at least
US$400-million to cover the costs.
Under the program's protocol, eligible death claims can expect a payout of at least US$1-million or more,
depending on whether the deceased had any dependents or any other "extraordinary circumstances" applied.
Once claims are approved, Mr. Feinberg's office makes cash offers to the eligible claimants. At least three
families so far have accepted the awards, according to plaintiffs' lawyers.
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Brendan Smialowski, AFP, Getty Images / The office of Kenneth Feinberg, above, has received a total of 1,371 claims for deaths
and injuries over the GM ignition-switch crisis.
Edition: National
Story Type: News
Length: 380 words
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GM ignition-switch death toll reaches 27, attorney says
Windsor Star
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: B1 / Front
Section: News
Dateline: DETROIT
Source: The Associated Press
general
motors
Also in Edmonton Journal.
noted
on
Tue
Oct
14
2014
5:46
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At least 27 people have died and 25 people have been seriously injured in crashes involving General Motors
cars with defective ignition switches.
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the totals Monday. Feinberg
says he has received 178 death claims since August.
Of those, 27 have been deemed eligible for compensation payments.
Twenty-five of the 1,193 injury claimants have also received compensation offers.
Feinberg has made 31 settlement offers, and 21 have been accepted thus far. None of the offers has been
rejected, said Camille Biros, deputy administrator of the fund for Feinberg's firm.
GM knew about faulty ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade but
did not recall them until February of this year. The switches can slip out of the "on" position, which causes the
cars to stall.
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Edition: Early
Story Type: News
Length: 136 words
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Attorney says death toll from GM ignition switches now stands at
27; GM ignition switch deaths rise to 27
Canadian Press
Mon Oct 13 2014
Section: Business
DETROIT - At least 27 people have died and 25 people have been seriously injured in crashes involving
General Motors cars with defective ignition switches.
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the totals Monday.
Feinberg says he has received 178 death claims since August. Of those, 27 have been deemed eligible for
compensation payments.
Twenty-five of the 1,193 injury claimants have also received compensation offers.
Feinberg has made 31 settlement offers, and 21 have been accepted thus far. None of the offers has been
rejected, said Camille Biros, deputy administrator of the fund for Feinberg's firm.
GM knew about faulty ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade but
didn't recall them until February of this year. The switches can slip out of the "on" position, which causes the
cars to stall, knocks out power steering and turns off the air bags.
Feinberg will accept claims until Dec. 31.
Copyright © 2014 The Canadian Press
Length: 153 words
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GM issues recalls affecting 60,575 cars
Montreal Gazette
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: B17
Section: Driving
Byline: NICK TRAGIANIS
Source: The Gazette
GM has announced it will recall some 60,575 vehicles in three separate recall campaigns, including one over
ignition switch concerns.
The first and largest covers 47,000 examples of the 2008 and 2009 Pontiac G8 sedan, as well as the 2011 to
2013 Chevrolet Caprice, a fleet-only sedan based on the G8 and sold in the U.S. Similar to GM's previous
recall affecting the Chevrolet Camaro, the automaker says the ignition switch in the affected G8s and Caprices
can be bumped out of the "on" position if the car is running and the driver's knee comes in contact with the key.
The second recall affects 2004 to 2007 model-year Cadillac CTS-Vs, and 2006 and 2007 STS-V sedans over a
faulty fuel pump that could overheat and result in a fuel leak.
The final recall covers 304 Chevrolet Sonic subcompacts from 2014 because of the possibility of airbag issues
caused by a loose electrical connection in the steering column.
The latest set of recalls brings GM's total for 2014 to 75 separate campaigns, according to AutoGuide.
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• GENERAL MOTORS / GM's latest recalls include 47,000 2008-09 Pontiac G8s for ignition switch issues.
Edition: Early
Story Type: News
Length: 162 words
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2014 Cadillac ELR customers to get free fast charger
The Telegram (St. John's)
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: E19
Section: Drive
Byline: Nauman Farooq
Source: AutoGo.ca
Cadillac's electric wonder, the 2014 ELR has had a difficult start. While many auto writers have applauded this
stylish plug-in hybrid coupe, it hasn't exactly been flying off the showroom floor.
The possible deterrent for many of its potential customers is the price, which starts at $78,250 (minus any
Federal green car incentives in your respective province).
To sweeten the deal, Cadillac Canada is now offering early buyers of the ELR, an upgraded 240-volt home
charger - with professional installation - for free.
The 120-volt charger that the car was initially offered with, takes between 12.5 to 18 hours to fully charge the
vehicle's 16.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack - the 240-volt quick charger drops that time to just five-hours, which
is much more appealing.
On a full charge, Cadillac reckons the 2014 ELR can cover roughly 59 km in electric mode. When your battery
is depleted, a 1.4L I4 engine will get you home. With a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas, GM Canada
says the 2014 ELR coupe has a driving range of approximately 480 km.
Will the free upgraded charger entice more customers to sign the dotted line to bring a 2014 Cadillac ELR
home? Time will tell.
© 2014 Transcontinental Media G.P. All rights reserved.
Length: 194 words
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Corvette's Valet Mode could be illegal
The Telegram (St. John's)
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: E19
Section: Drive
Byline: Charles Jolicoeur
Source: AutoGo.ca
The new Chevrolet Corvette can be equipped with a device that records various vehicle data to see how it was
used when the owner no longer has it in his or her possession. The problem is that this device is illegal in many
American states.
General Motors sent a letter to its dealers recently asking them to contact owners of the Chevrolet Corvette
equipped with the Performance Data Recorder system, which includes the much talked-about "Valet Mode", to
warn them that use of the system is not permitted by law in twelve American states including California.
In addition to recording the speed and the way the Corvette was driven, the PDR device is able to record
conversations taking place inside the vehicle. But some American states require anyone who wants to record
another person to obtain the consent of that individual in advance.
So General Motors has decided to update the PDR software so that it notifies anyone who is driving the car
that his or her actions are being recorded, a function that does not exist at present.
Although the PDR system was originally designed to allow Corvette owners to record their vehicle's
performance, General Motors has also touted the increased security offered by technology when handing the
Corvette over to a valet.
"Anyone who has felt apprehension about handing over their keys will appreciate the peace of mind of knowing
exactly what happened while their baby was out of sight," Harlan Charles, project manager for the Corvette,
said back in August.
© 2014 Transcontinental Media G.P. All rights reserved.
Length: 253 words
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Riding along with Big Brother
Toronto Star
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: W4
Section: Wheels
Byline: Kumar Saha
Once upon a time in North America, cars were symbols of freedom.
Chuck Berry sang about ridin' around in the automobile with "no particular place to go."
If you wanted to drop off the radar and step out into the great wide open, the car was a good place to start.
But times have changed. So have our vehicles.
These days, cars are able to do many things. Keeping an eye on you is on that list as well.
The increasing number of electronic sensors constantly record not just all the happenings under the hood, but
also your interactions with the vehicle - speed, driving patterns, braking.
Similarly, the paired smartphone or the in-built navigation system keep record of where you go, who you call,
and often by inference, what you do and buy (the trip to Walmart or the outlet mall in Buffalo might say more
about you than you can imagine).
True, we expect our cars to be smarter.
We want our car to be able to tell us when it's going to break down before it does, when it's up for maintenance
and, literally, drive us around without intervention.
So, in a way we have surrendered our proverbial freedom for convenience. Or have we?
The murmur around the legality and privacy of in-car data has been steadily growing over the last year.
With all the recent high-profile recalls involving General Motors, and Toyota before that, lawyers are beginning
to wonder if at some point courts could begin requesting access to vehicle data.
According to a law professor quoted in a Business Insider article, the vehicular environment could be no
different from that of a bank or the Internet.
If you did something wrong or if some information from that particular environment could determine legal
proceedings, arms of the law could indeed reach into your dashboard.
Automakers, such as Ford, have been up front in stating that they would make such data available to law
enforcement agencies, if needed. GM has similar disclaimers for its OnStar telematics systems, specifying that
it retains the right to "review the data for product safety or security purposes, to protect the safety of you or
others, or to help maintain the proper operation of your vehicle."
Vehicle owners are most likely to accept, even if reluctantly or somewhat forcibly, the use of vehicle data in
complex legal battles that serve a greater good or in cases involving some form of criminality.
But the use of data for other purposes - for example, marketing or insurance - is where things may get a little
testy.
GM ran into some trouble in 2011 for not checking with its customers first before allowing its OnStar system to
begin collecting and sharing vehicle data with third-parties in order to improve its services.
The Detroit automaker later clarified that it will only be using the data anonymously and any information that
identifies a specific vehicle or owner will need clear consent before it leaves the system.
Customer consent sounds great on paper but the problem is, as we have seen in online services, collection
and analysis of user data is essential to improving any service.
Most people love the Facebook or Amazon experience because both these services closely track our habits
and gently nudge us toward things that we might find useful.
Similarly, if we want our cars to be intelligent, there has to be some give and take.
Personally, I think the risk lies in two fronts - what the automakers may be actually doing with some of that data
and, like much of our other connected experience, the level of exposure we'll have to malcontents and hackers.
As I mentioned in an earlier column, automakers and legislators are already seriously considering the second
issue.
The former is still up in the air and, at least for the short term, automakers will use the opt-in approach with
some degree of variability between themselves. However, as vehicles become more entrenched in the matrix,
there may be need for some rules of the road.
U.S. Senator Al Franken, along with others, has already started the conversation around vehicle data
ownership and consent south of the border.
I think Canadian legislators and industry insiders need to start looking into it as well in light of our connected
future.
Kumar Saha is a Toronto-based automotive analyst with the global research firm Frost & Sullivan
© 2014 Torstar Corporation
Illustration:
• U.S. Senator Al Franken is looking into privacy concerns of motorists. CLIFF OWEN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Edition: ONT
Length: 733 words
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Ram not expected to go aluminum anytime soon
The Province
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: C2
Section: Trucking
Byline: Nick Tragianis
Source: Postmedia News
Although the 2015 Ford F-150 boasts a new aluminum chassis and body, as well as reports of the nextgeneration Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra going aluminum by 2018, Ram is expected to stick to its steel
body through 2020.
Sources within Chrysler say the automaker is working on a significant refresh for its Ram pickups by 2017, but
following in the tracks of its competitors and opting for a lighter aluminum body isn't in the cards. It would
appear Chrysler would be falling behind its competitors as a result, but by sticking to steel, the automaker is
avoiding the risk of alienating pickup buyers who feel steel is stronger than aluminum.
Not only that, GM and Ford can actually afford it since, unlike Chrysler, they can offset the development costs
with how many pickups they sell.
In light of stricter fuel economy regulations for trucks taking effect in 2018 south of the border, Chrysler is
already ahead of the competition in some ways - it offers a 3.0-litre turbodiesel on the Ram 1500, as well as an
eight-speed automatic and start-stop technology.
Following the Ram's refresh in 2017, a redesign is expected as early as 2021.
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Postmedia News Files / Despite a refresh in 2017, the Dodge Ram 1500 will stick with its steel body through 2020.
Edition: Final
Story Type: News
Length: 188 words
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U.S., Canadian auto sales expected to stay strong
The Globe and Mail
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: B3
Section: Report on Business
Byline: GREG KEENAN
Sizzling auto sales in Canada and the United States should continue to stay hot through next year, according to
Royal Bank of Canada.
The key factor propelling both markets is solid job growth, because households are more likely to make a major
purchase such as a vehicle if they believe their jobs are secure, economist Nathan Janzen said in a report
released Tuesday.
Mr. Janzen said U.S. vehicle sales have a little more room to grow than Canadian sales and should hit 16.3
million units this year and 16.8 million units in 2015.
Canadian sales are on pace to top 1.8 million units this year for the first time ever and although they may fall
slightly next year, they should stay above the 1.8 million level, he said.
"Interest rates are expected to remain historically low and are expected to rise only gradually going forward," he
wrote, "while, in part because of slow price growth, automobile purchases as a share of household incomes are
still below prerecession levels," he said in assessing the Canadian outlook.
There is some pent-up demand in Canada, he noted, although Canadian sales are underpinned by job growth
and vehicle affordability.
"A trend toward longer amortization periods on vehicles loans, which are now offered over periods up to eight
years, have reduced the level of monthly payments associated with a given purchase price or interest rate," he
said.
Vehicle sales rose 5.5 per cent through the end of September, putting them ahead of the pace needed to break
the record of 1.74 million hit last year.
In fact, if sales through the final months of the year simply match the levels hit last year, the record will be
broken.
The U.S. market is still short of record territory, but is now hitting levels not seen since before the 2008-09
recession.
Easing credit conditions, pentup demand arising from the low level of sales during the recession and improving
household net worth are some of the factors driving U.S. sales higher, Mr. Janzen said.
"Gains in equity markets and a return to growth in house prices have supported recent gains in household net
worth, while household deleveraging, which likely restrained growth in overall consumer spending, appears to
be winding down," he observed.
© 2014 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Edition: Ontario
Length: 370 words
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USED CAR CRUNCH; Shortage of off-lease vehicles tied to
recession crimps supply, sends prices higher
The Globe and Mail
Mon Oct 13 2014
Page: B1
Section: Report on Business
Byline: GREG KEENAN
The Great Recession has all but faded out of sight in the rear view mirror of the auto industry, but the effects of
the downturn are still causing upheaval in Canada's used car market.
There's a shortage of used vehicles in the prime four- to seven-year old category that for much of the 2000s
formed the bulk of the used car market.
The shortage means prices in that segment have risen at the weekly auctions where dealers buy many of their
used cars.
"In the past, we have sourced some vehicles from auctions, but with less supply it is competitive and pricing is
getting unreasonable," said Keith Kalawsky, president of Castlegar Hyundai and Castlegar Kia in Castlegar,
B.C.
"At this point, we are sourcing most of our used from customer trade-ins."
The used car market generates barely any attention - it's not nearly as exciting as the unveiling of shiny new
metal - but measured by number of vehicles sold, it's actually bigger than the new vehicle market.
Canadians bought about 2.8 million used vehicles last year, compared with a record 1.74 million new cars,
trucks and crossovers, according to data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. The used
vehicle total represented almost two-thirds of all vehicle sales.
The shortage of used cars is traced directly back to 200809 when auto makers all but halted leasing during the
financial crisis.
The return of three-, four- and five-year-old leased cars to dealerships provided a major source of supply prior
to the recession when leasing represented more than 40 per cent of new vehicle sales.
Leasing has recovered to the point where it amounted to about 17 per cent of the new vehicle market in the
past 12 months, data prepared by auto consulting firm J.D. Power and Associates show.
"It's a real grind to buy cars right now," said Kevin Bavelaar, who owns Auto Showplace, a Toronto used car
dealership.
Mr. Bavelaar said he is also buying fewer vehicles at used car auctions and sticking mainly with trade-ins,
which has changed his business.
Before the recession, the ample supply of recent model-year used cars meant about 80 per cent of the vehicles
on his lot were previously leased and so were in the range of four years old.
Now, 50 per cent of his investory is in that range and the other half is in the seven- to nine-yearold category.
That means he needs to spend more time and money sprucing up the older vehicles before he can sell them
and he has to explain to buyers how vehicles have changed in the past decade.
"I get it all the time, 'Does this car not have Bluetooth? Does this car not have USB ports?' And I'm like, 'It's an
'06, they didn't have that in '06,' " he said. "That is the driving force in everybody's life right now: what kind of
technologies does this have. I don't mean technology in airbags and anti-lock brakes; [but] can I play music
through my iPhone in this car?" He noted that the prices on four- to seven-year-old vehicles have become so
high that the profit margins for dealers are "so skinny that by the time you own it, there's no point in even
owning it."
Mr. Kalawsky of Castelgar said he typically likes to have a minimum of two to three months supply of used cars
on hand. At the moment, he has about a 30day supply available.
"The good news is that most used vehicles tend to sell quickly," he said. "But we could use a bit more breathing
room to expand this part of our business."
The scarcity of recent-year used vehicles is also having an effect on the new vehicle market, said industry
analyst Dennis DesRosiers, president of the consulting firm that bears his name.
"We believe it's one of the fundamental reasons why so many people are buying new," he said, pointing to the
record pace of new vehicle sales, which hit an even higher gear last month when the seasonally adjusted
annual rate of vehicle sales in Canada hit two million for the first time.
The No. 2 reason for upgrading to a new vehicle is fuel economy, he noted, so it makes more sense for
consumers to buy a new vehicle equipped with the most upto-date fuel economy features and, at the same
time, take advantage of hefty incentives and long-term loans that make monthly payments closer to what
drivers would pay if they were leasing cars.
"It's almost a no-brainer for a consumer," he said.
© 2014 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Edition: Ontario
Length: 753 words
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September, another month of growth in car sales
The Telegram (St. John's)
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: E22
Section: Drive
Byline: Charles Jolicoeur
Source: AutoGo.ca
Most manufacturers saw their sales jump more than 10 percent in September, while sales of the industry as a
whole experienced an increase of 12.6%. A total of 167,919 new cars were sold in September.
Ford finished first in sales with 27,148 units sold, an increase of 16.1 percent. The difference between the three
American manufacturers, however, was lower in September as General Motors finished second with 24,555
models sold, a significant increase of 34.4 percent. Fiat-Chrysler in turn sold 23,620 cars, an increase of 19.8
percent compared to the same period last year.
Among luxury car manufacturers, Audi did very well in September with an increase of 42.3 percent in sales.
However, this did not allow the manufacturer to jump ahead of Mercedes-Benz (3683 sales) and BMW (3,398
sales) in terms of total sales. Infiniti experienced steady growth with 893 units registered, 17 more than in
September 2013, while Acura rebounded with 1,664 vehicles sold, 9.8 percent more than for the same time last
year. Volvo had a rare month of growth with 17.9 percent more sales last month than in September 2013 while
Porsche continued its upward trend with 415 units sold, an increase of 24.6 percent. Jaguar sales increased
11,6 percent last month, while Land Rover (-11.5 percent) and Lexus (-5.0 percent) are the only manufacturers
of luxury cars to see their sales drop in September.
Among Japanese automakers, Toyota dominated again with 16,834 sales, 7.3 percent more than in September
2013 while Honda finished second with 13,341 sales, an increase of 7.3 percent. Nissan and Mitsubishi
distinguished themselves with increases of 30.7 percent and 41.3 percent respectively. Mazda sold 6,338 cars
last month, a gain of 12.2 percent while Subaru ended September with 3,807 sales, or 15 percent more than for
the same period in 2013.
Hyundai again beat Kia among Korean manufacturers with 12,009 new cars registered, a gain of 2.6 percent.
Kia sold 5,783 cars, a significant drop of 15.4 percent compared to September 2013. Volkswagen recorded a
gain of 11.9 percent last month, while Mini (-35.0 percent) and Smart (-43.2 percent) had a difficult month.
© 2014 Transcontinental Media G.P. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Mitsubishi distinguished itself in September with sales increases of nearly 42 percent.
Length: 312 words
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Fiat Chrysler makes its U.S. debut; Analysts see risks
National Post
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: FP13
Section: Financial Post
Byline: Agnieszka Flak and Jeffrey Dastin
Dateline: MILAN; NEW YORK
Source: Reuters
Investors cautiously greeted the Wall Street debut on Monday of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a move that shifts
the carmaker's centre of gravity away from Italy and caps a decade of canny dealmaking and tough
restructuring by chief executive Sergio Marchionne.
"We're finally taking Chrysler back" to the U.S. stock market, Mr. Marchionne said Monday on the floor of the
New York Stock Exchange. "One of the Detroit Three is coming home."
Investors in the United States and Europe approached the new listing gingerly, as analysts expressed
reservations about the company's prospects.
FCA shares opened at US$9 in New York and rose as high as US$9.55 before closing at US$8.92.
Trading was muted, with about 5.8 million shares changing hands on the NYSE.
Mr. Marchionne rang the closing bell at the NYSE on Monday to mark the milestone for the 62-year-old CEO
who revived one of Italy's top companies and helped rescue Chrysler along the way.
The world's seventh-largest auto group sought the U.S. listing to help establish itself as a leading global player
through access to the world's biggest equity market and the cheaper, more reliable source of funding it
ultimately offers.
Mr. Marchionne on Monday said FCA might raise debt funding to help finance its US$60-billion five-year
investment plan.
Fiat took management control of bankrupt Chrysler in 2009 and completed its buyout this year. It is now
combining all of its businesses under Dutch-registered FCA, which will have a U.K. financial domicile and small
London headquarters, with operations centres in Turin and Detroit.
But Mr. Marchionne has picked a difficult moment to woo U.S. investors. Analysts think U.S. car sales are
nearing a peak, while Europe is struggling to recover from years of decline and growth in China and Latin
America has slowed.
"Only those willing to accept the risks of a highly leveraged turnaround situation in a competitive, capitalintensive, highly cyclical industry should consider investing," Richard Hilgert, an analyst at Morningstar, said in
a note.
IHS Automotive, a leading industry research firm, said on Monday that it expects FCA will miss Mr.
Marchionne's aggressive sales targets for the company as a whole and several of its brands, including Jeep
and Alfa Romeo. IHS "does not currently expect this plan to succeed," said analyst Ian Fletcher in a note.
In comparison with GM and Ford, FCA is seen as less attractive because of its aging model lineup, high debt,
weaker margins in North America and small presence in China.
"Ford and GM offer much stronger cash generation and balance sheets, and are thus in a position to return
cash to shareholders, while FCA still needs to raise capital," Exane BNP Paribas analyst Stuart Pearson said in
a note.
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Edition: All_but_Toronto
Story Type: News
Length: 453 words
Return to top
Finally, auto nuptials; Merged Fiat Chrysler Automobiles debuts in
New York as it embarks on four-year plan
National Post
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: FP3
Section: Financial Post
Byline: Kristine Owram
Column: In Toronto
Source: Financial Post
More than five years after Chrysler LLC and Fiat SpA first hooked up, the alliance has proved to be an
essential one for both automakers. Under the leadership of Italian-Canadian chief executive Sergio
Marchionne, Fiat rescued Chrysler by taking a 35% stake in the Detroit automaker when it was at death's door
during the financial crisis. Since then, Chrysler has been able to repay the favour, helping keep Fiat afloat as
the European auto industry collapsed during the recession and debt crisis that followed.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will finally cement that partnership Monday as a fully merged company trading on the
New York Stock Exchange.
"Sergio Marchionne obviously deserves a disproportionate amount of credit," Reid Bigland, CEO of Windsor,
Ont.-based Chrysler Canada and head of Chrysler's U.S. sales, said in a recent interview.
"Clearly on the strength of our balance sheet we're well positioned and we're also significantly more diversified
with respect to our products."
Further consolidation could be in the cards. Mr. Marchionne recently told Bloomberg Businessweek there's
room for an automotive player even bigger than current market leader Toyota Motor Corp., and chairman John
Elkann said Fiat Chrysler is "ready to participate" if it makes sense.
The Fiat-Chrysler combination has helped both companies expand their global reach and improve their product
offerings. The newly dubbed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV reported a 19% increase in U.S. sales and a 20%
jump in Canadian sales in September.
"It is, by a long shot, the best product lineup they've ever had in their history in terms of depth and breadth and
quality and features," said industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive
Consultants in Toronto.
"It's hard to say, though, whether it's better than anybody else's."
Chrysler's sales growth in North America has been disproportionately dependent on trucks. As of the end of
August, trucks accounted for nearly 86% of Chrysler's total Canadian sales this year, according to data
compiled by Mr. DesRosiers.
Fiat Chrysler is also restricted by its lack of higher-end offerings in North America.
"Their one shortcoming is they don't have anything in the luxury market, one of the fastest-growing markets in
the world and indeed in Canada," Mr. DesRosiers said.
Fiat Chrysler is trying to remedy that by reintroducing the Alfa Romeo - perhaps best known for its cameo as
Dustin Hoffman's car in The Graduate - to North America this year.
Other regions remain challenging for the automaker. In the fiercely competitive European market, auto sales
have declined for six consecutive years and are expected to post only a small increase this year.
Meanwhile, Fiat has been struggling with declining sales in Brazil, where it has been the No. 1 automaker for
12 years. Fiat's shipments in Brazil fell 21% in the second quarter compared to a year earlier. This was on top
of a 7% decline in light vehicle sales in 2013, when the country accounted for about 10% of Fiat's total revenue.
The biggest challenge for Fiat Chrysler may be sorting out its financial situation as it embarks on an ambitious
four-year expansion plan. The plan, unveiled by Mr. Marchionne in May, sees Chrysler sales growing to more
than 800,000 units in 2018 from 350,000 in 2013. It also aims to expand Alfa Romeo sales to 400,000 by 2018,
more than fivefold what it sells today.
Mr. Marchionne said last week he plans to retire after he implements the strategic plan.
"I am not going to do any more turnarounds. I'm done; let some of the young punks do it," he told Bloomberg
Businessweek.
Some analysts have questioned how realistic Mr. Marchionne's goals are.
"There is no way that the company can rejuvenate the Alfa Romeo brand by introducing five or six new cars
within the next couple of years," Hans-Peter Wodniok, an analyst at Alpha-Value, wrote in a recent note to
clients.
"On top of this, it intends to expand production of Jeep trucks into another four or five countries. At the same
time, it intends to reduce net debt by some 90% to around ?1-billion ($1.41-billion). We cannot grant
management the benefit of doubt as these calculations do not add up."
That's not to say that Fiat Chrysler is necessarily a bad investment, at least according to some analysts. In fact,
the stock could see a 40% to 100% upside with a "sustainable capital structure," according to Massimo
Vecchio, analyst at Mediobanca Securities.
"We believe [Fiat Chrysler Automobiles] is no worse than its peers and its business model is not as impaired as
some think," Mr. Vecchio wrote in a recent analysis.
"We believe that both on an unlevered basis and with a normal leverage the stock could have a significant
upside."
On Monday, the combined company will list in New York while continuing to trade in Milan. It will also shift its
tax residency to London and its legal headquarters to Amsterdam, all with an eye on optimizing profits and
shareholder returns.
[email protected] Twitter.com/KristineOwram
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• / Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne
Edition: National
Story Type: Column
Length: 812 words
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Fiat Chrysler shares hit the market; Newly merged automaker's
stocks close first trading day just below where they began
Toronto Star
Tue Oct 14 2014
Page: S8
Section: Business
Byline: The Associated Press
general
motors
noted
on
Tue
Oct
14
2014
Also in Windsor Star, Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Hamilton Spectator.
5:59
am
ET
Shares of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles bounced between negative and positive Monday after making their debut
on the New York Stock Exchange.
The newly merged company's stock, traded under the symbol FCAU, opened at $9 (U.S.) and rose quickly to
$9.55 before falling much of the day. The stock closed at $8.92 as the Dow Jones industrial average slumped.
The company began trading in New York to raise its profile and give U.S. investors a chance to own part of the
Chrysler comeback story. The stock will also trade in Milan.
Chrysler is now profitable, driven by a rebound in U.S. sales, five years after a trip through bankruptcy and a
takeover by Fiat orchestrated by the U.S. government.
But that performance is offset by Fiat's struggles in Europe. Fiat Chrysler is the seventh-largest auto company
in the world, and chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne wanted the merger to consolidate costs and
technology to compete with larger global automakers.
Fiat Chrysler has an ambitious goal to grow sales 60 per cent to more than seven million cars and trucks by
2018. Combined, the companies sold 4.4 million cars and trucks last year, compared with 6.3 million for Detroit
rival Ford. Toyota was the global leader with sales of 9.98 million vehicles.
Marchionne, in television interviews during the day, said auto stocks in general are undervalued by investors.
He told CNBC that the same naysayers who thought Chrysler would go out of business five years ago are the
ones doubting his sales projections now.
On Bloomberg Television, he said a new mid-size Alfa Romeo will come to the U.S. in June of 2015, without
giving details. Alfa's first U.S. vehicle in years, the 4C sports car, is headed for the U.S. now, he said.
Only a limited number of shares went on sale Monday, mainly from Italian stockholders. The company released
details of a new share structure Monday, swapping Fiat SpA shares 1-for-1 for stock in the new company. The
company also holds 35 million shares and could sell them later in the year.
Marchionne said the company will certainly tap the debt markets and could also sell more stock to raise cash to
protect itself from a downturn.
In an interview, Morningstar senior analyst Richard Hilgert said Fiat Chrysler faces macroeconomic troubles in
Europe and South America, its two largest markets outside the U.S. Also, earnings likely will look smaller as
the company switches from international to U.S. accounting standards, he said.
"Fiat Chrysler's stock is not for the faint of heart," he said in a note to investors.
The stock's debut in New York comes at an inopportune time. The market, and auto stocks in particular, took
hits last week, with both General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. shares hitting 52-week lows.
The combined Fiat Chrysler is counting on expanding sales at Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Maserati and a revival of
the Chrysler brand to place it firmly in the top ranks of global automakers.
Fiat owned 58.5 per cent of Chrysler last year, and the two companies were combined in January when it
bought the rest from a trust fund that pays health-care bills for union retirees.
Marchionne, 62, who has led Chrysler's restructuring and combination with Fiat, said last week that he plans to
stay with the company through 2018. He and Chairman John Elkann rang the closing bell at the NYSE.
© 2014 Torstar Corporation
Illustration:
• Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, left, and company chairman John Elkann.
Edition: ONT
Length: 561 words
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Sergio Marchionne rebuilds Fiat Chrysler at 200 m.p.h.; The
transatlantic marriage of two struggling regional carmakers will
probably be the capstone of his career
Windsor Star
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: A5
Section: News
Byline: David Rocks And Tommaso Ebhardt
Source: Bloomberg
Sergio Marchionne likes to move fast. The chief executive officer of Fiat SpA and Chrysler Group LLC owns a
half-dozen Ferraris, has homes in three countries, and spends much of his time on a private jet shuttling
between Detroit, Fiat's hometown of Turin, and other outposts of his growing empire.
Fuelled by a dozen espressos a day and packs of Muratti cigarettes, he stormed into Fiat a decade ago and
fired most of the top management, then did the same at Chrysler in 2009, installing a dozen newcomers on his
second day.
And on a recent grey Tuesday morning, Marchionne took one of his Ferraris - a black Enzo - around Fiat's
high-speed test track near the town of Balocco, 40 miles east of Turin. "When you're pissed off," he said,
stamping on the accelerator and pushing the car from a comfortable 120 miles per hour to something over 200,
"there's nothing better than this."
As he and Fiat chairman John Elkann prepare to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on
Monday to mark a new listing, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Marchionne is racing to create a lineup of cars that
will lure buyers into showrooms worldwide.
By 2018, the combined company plans to spend about $60 billion adding more than 30 models, from
subcompacts to a Maserati sport utility vehicle. That, he predicts, will help the new company boost sales 60 per
cent to seven million cars and churn out a profit of $6.3 billion. "We're moving as fast as we possibly can,"
Marchionne said after his spin around the circuit's banked curves.
Marchionne would be the first to tell you speed can be dangerous. "In the car business, sometimes you crash,"
he said. He should know. In 2007, he smashed up a $350,000 Ferrari on a highway in Switzerland. Yet he
argues that moving any slower would be even riskier. Fiat Chrysler is the world's No. 7 automaking group by
deliveries, and Marchionne has long said there's room for just a half-dozen or fewer major players.
The transatlantic marriage of two struggling regional carmakers will probably be the capstone of Marchionne's
career. He says he's only committed to staying at Fiat through 2018. So how quickly he gets the new company
on its feet during these last laps may well determine his legacy.
"The idea of revitalizing an American company was particularly appealing to him, and you can see it in how
he's built up Chrysler," said Ron Bloom, a member of U.S. President Barack Obama's auto-industry bailout
team who recalls sharing cigarette breaks with Marchionne on a Treasury Department balcony overlooking the
White House during Chrysler talks.
Marchionne's plan has legions of doubters. Half of the analysts who cover Fiat recommend investors sell the
shares, saying the CEO's sales goals are unrealistic and its 10 billion euros in debt is too high. Researcher IHS
forecasts the company will fall short of its 2018 targets by about 1.8 million cars.
"Are they really going to launch all those models?" said IHS analyst Ian Fletcher. "And to develop new models
is one thing; to attract customers is another."
Sipping espresso on the veranda of the 19th-century farmhouse at the centre of the Balocco track, Marchionne
said: "I'm used to incredulity." He sets ambitious targets, he said, because aiming lower would be "to establish
mediocrity as a benchmark of the house. If you dream of peanuts, you get monkeys."
A poker fanatic who insists that passengers on the Fiat corporate jet play cards with him deep into the night,
Marchionne has a record more as a deal-maker than an automaker. In the past decade, he has pulled both Fiat
and Chrysler back from the edge of bankruptcy. In 2005 he played a game of chicken with General Motors Co.,
threatening to enforce a contract that would have required the struggling American company to buy even
dodgier Fiat. He walked away with a $2-billion cash settlement.
Four years later, he took over Chrysler, ultimately spending only about 10 per cent of the $36 billion Germany's
Daimler AG paid for the company in 1998.
He's been less successful with cars. Marchionne ditched the storied Italian brand Lancia after trying to rebadge
Chrysler models as Lancias for sale in Europe. He was late to China. And despite initial promises of bringing
Alfa Romeo back to the U.S. as early as 2011, the sporty luxury brand won't get there until 2016, with the
exception of a two-seater introduced this year that won't sell more than 1,000 cars.
Marchionne acknowledges that he was new to the auto industry when he took over Fiat, but points out that he's
now the longest serving CEO of any major European automaker.
"I'm a car freak," he said, looking over the lineup of Maseratis and Ferraris under the portico of a converted
stable at Balocco. "But my survival instinct is stronger than my addiction to cars."
That survival instinct has led him to largely abandon the mass market in Europe, which he says is too crowded
to offer a significant profit. Instead, he wants to transform Fiat's
under-utilized Italian plants into export machines for more expensive cars. In 2000, Fiat made 1.4 million
vehicles in Italy. By 2013, its Italian output had dropped below 400,000 as Fiat wound down models that
compete directly with bestsellers like Volkswagen AG's Golf. "We did a lot of soulsearching to try to see how
best to utilize what we had in Italy," said Marchionne's boss, Elkann, the great-great-grandson of Giovanni
Agnelli, who founded Fiat in 1899.
The two make an unlikely team. While Marchionne is always ready with a quick riposte sprinkled with profanity,
the gangly, 38-year-old Elkann speaks slowly, as if every word has been squeezed through a filter.
At Balocco he's wearing a pinstriped suit with a red sweater vest and blue tie. He rarely appears in public with
an open collar, a sharp contrast to Marchionne's trademark black sweater and dark blue slacks. As the scion of
the Agnelli family, Elkann is almost like royalty in Italy and a constant focus of the tabloid press. He drinks tea
instead of coffee. He doesn't smoke. And he owns just a single Ferrari.
Despite their different temperaments - and their 24-year age difference - Elkann and Marchionne have "a very
easy relationship," said Bill Ford, the great-grandson of Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford, whose family has
known the Agnelli clan for more than 50 years. "It can be awkward when you're the boss of someone much
older," said Ford, who hosted the pair at a dinner at his house along with then-Ford CEO Alan Mulally. "I've
been impressed that that's not true with those two."
Elkann and Marchionne say they fire off dozens of Black-Berry BBM text messages to each other daily - mostly
in English, despite their shared Italian heritage. Elkann, who took over management of the family's holdings at
age 28, says Marchionne has taught him to be flexible.
"You can't plan everything," said Elkann. "We've learned that serendipity is real," Marchionne echoes in his
gravelly voice punctuated by a smokers cough. "S**t will happen."
Some executives who know both men say that they have something of a father-son relationship, but
Marchionne said, "he's more like a kid brother."
The brawny Jeep brand is central to their plan. Marchionne plans to start building the Cherokee SUV in China
by 2016 as he seeks to double sales to more than 1.9 million vehicles, largely by quintupling deliveries in the
world's most populous nation. The Jeep name, Marchionne says, "is credible, and is understood by everybody."
And he expects Alfa Romeo and Maserati to steal buyers from BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
The Germans' reputation as makers of higher-quality cars than the Italians "is just crap," Marchionne said,
stubbing his cigarette into an ashtray.
What's important is to ensure each brand stands for something. That's easy with Ferrari: really fast cars that
can cost more than the average worker earns in a decade. And it's not tough with Alfa, Maserati, Jeep, or even
Dodge, which is being refocused around the muscle-car roots of sportsters like the Charger and Challenger.
Most troubled are the company's namesake brands. "Fiat is the toughest nut in Europe and Chrysler is the
toughest in the U.S.," Marchionne said.
Chrysler, which previous management had sought to position as a near-luxury nameplate, is being shifted
down-market. A new sedan called the 200 - best known as the car driven by rapper Eminem in a 2011 Super
Bowl ad with the tagline "Imported From Detroit" - has been well-received. But the brand has only three
models, and U.S. sales have dropped six per cent this year.
Fiat is buffing up its image in the U.S. and Europe as the maker of the retro-hip 500, intended as an answer to
BMW's Mini range. The problem is that the identity is muddled elsewhere. Brazil, for instance, now builds more
Fiats than any other country, so "when a Brazilian goes to New York and sees a Fiat, he says, 'Hey, there's a
Brazilian car,'" Marchionne said.
At the Balocco test track, Marchionne and Elkann are eager to show the cross-pollination of their brands. In the
farmhouse courtyard a Jeep Renegade sits next to its Italian cousin, the 500X, both to be built at a Fiat factory
in Melfi, 100 miles east of Naples. "This is a real SUV," Marchionne said, slapping the tailgate of the diminutive
blue Renegade. "It'll take you anywhere."
In industry jargon, the two vehicles share a "platform," which means most of the stuff you can't see - engine,
axles, air-conditioning ducts, window-winders. Roughly speaking, it costs $1 billion to take a car from
designer's sketch pad to dealer's showroom. Adapting a platform for a new model can be done for less than
$300 million, Marchionne says.
Though the two cars look nothing alike, Fiat says they share about 40 per cent of their components. The
Renegade is boxy and muscular, with a wide stance and sixpillared Jeep grille that make it look like it just
forded an Idaho stream even if it's on a crowded Shanghai street.
The 500X, while also featuring four-wheel-drive and the higher profile of an SUV, has the seductive curves of
the original Fiat 500 and is intended to ooze Dolce Vita insouciance whether at a mall in Chicago or on the Via
Veneto in Rome. "This is urban, civilized," Marchionne said, running his hands across the cream-coloured fiveseater. "It's Italy at its best."
Marchionne has a deep understanding of the cultural barriers that separate the Italians and their American
partners. He was born in Chieti, a hill town about two hours east of Rome (in a Fiat 500; maybe half that in a
Ferrari with Marchionne at the wheel). At age 14, his parents uprooted the family and moved to Toronto, where
Marchionne learned English from a standstill.
After studying philosophy, law, and business, he worked as an accountant in Canada. Marchionne consolidated
his reputation at SGS SA, a Swiss product testing company, where he doubled profits by cutting costs and
eliminating several layers of management.
SGS was controlled by Elkann, known as Jaki to most of the 100 members of the Agnelli clan whose billions he
oversees. In 2004 Elkann was looking for new leadership at Fiat, which had lost more than six billion euros
over the previous two years, and he took note of Marchionne's success at SGS. That May, he met Marchionne
for dinner at Geneva's lakeside Hotel de L'Angleterre.
Over coffee and grappa, Elkann floated the idea of Marchionne running Fiat. "He never asked me to work for
him," Marchionne said. "He asked me if I could lend a hand, and that's why I said yes."
Though the new company will trade in New York, it will be registered in the Netherlands and its headquarters
will be three floors of a 1960s tower on St. James's Street in London. Fiat opted to make one of the world's
most expensive neighbourhoods its official home to save money: the U.K.'s corporate tax rate is slated to fall to
20 per cent next year, while Italy's corporate rate is 31.4 per cent and in the U.S. it's about 40 per cent.
The Dutch registration lets Elkann take advantage of rules that supercharge the vote of a controlling
shareholder. Exor, the Agnelli vehicle that owns 30 per cent of Fiat, will have about 40 per cent of the new
company's voting rights.
Marchionne has support at the highest levels in Italy. Former prime minister Mario Monti helped him inaugurate
the production lines that will make the Renegade and the 500X. And Renzi on Sept. 26 spent the afternoon
with Marchionne at Chrysler headquarters. After a tour of the facility, Renzi said Marchionne's turnaround of
Fiat could serve as a model for all of Italian industry. "The most important thing is not the headquarters and
where they hold their annual meeting," Renzi said, "it's the strategy of making investments in the country."
While Marchionne said Fiat can manage his investment plan on its own, he would consider another alliance if
the right opportunity arises. Without identifying potential partners, he said he sees the possibility of a merger
that would create a company larger than Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest carmaker. "The industry
needs it," Marchionne said. "This is still a very fragmented industry for the level of capital you have to invest."
If such a deal happens, Marchionne doesn't expect to stick around beyond 2018 to make it a success. He says
he's grooming several members of his team for the top job since Elkann says he's not interested in combining
the chairman and CEO titles.
"You're asking me if there are other things I like to do apart from this? Phenomenally, yes," Marchionne said,
lighting another Muratti. "I like to be able to think, and that's not always possible in this job."
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Nick Brancaccio, Windsor Star Files / Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, left, and Fiat chairman John Elkann make an unlikely
team. While Marchionne is always ready with a quick riposte sprinkled with profanity, the gangly, Elkann speaks slowly, as if every
word has been squeezed through a filter.
• / Sergio Marchionne
Edition: Early
Story Type: News
Length: 2281 words
Return to top
General Motors Product News
We drove 'em, towed with 'em and even hauled with 'em
Toronto Star
Sat Oct 11 2014
Page: W14
Section: Wheels
Byline: Jil McIntosh
After two days of towing and hauling, the GMC Sierra 3500 has been named the winner of this year's Canadian
Truck King Challenge for heavy-duty pickup trucks, narrowly defeating the second-place Ram 3500 and thirdspot Ford F-350.
It's what these one-ton trucks were born to do, and that's the idea behind the event, the brainchild of auto writer
and truck expert Howard Elmer. He founded the challenge in 2008 to test a wide range of trucks in real-world
conditions with a panel of judges that included yours truly.
General Motors entered only one model, as the Chevrolet Silverado is the GMC's mechanical twin.
While the event usually includes light-duty trucks, some new models won't be available until later this year, and
we'll test them all next fall. Later this month there will be a second round of testing for work vans.
Elmer started the event when he noticed that most truck awards were handed out after judges drove the
vehicles empty, which doesn't reflect how they handle, ride or brake when they're loaded. We did drive a short
distance with nothing in them, but that was only en route to a building supply company where each was loaded
with 1,814 kilograms of shingles. We gave those back at the end of the day, and the next morning, we got fifthwheel RV trailers weighing about 6,800 kg (15,000 lbs.).
The three automakers, the only ones that make heavy-duty pickup trucks, were asked to enter one-ton trucks
with dual rear wheels. The Super Duty had single wheels and I initially thought Ford had brought a knife to a
gunfight, but it handled the tasks very well overall. It had a lighter steering feel that still worked fairly well when
the truck was loaded, although when towing I had to make more corrections to keep it straight on the highway
than with the other two.
The Ram's steering was heavy when empty, and most of the judges didn't like it. But when the truck was
loaded, that heft translated into a firmer, more confident feel. But the Ram also got the lowest score for brake
feel, while the GMC scored highest, proving it's not just top-dog status that matters when you're buying, but
how each truck rates in individual attributes. Since trucks are designed for a wide range of jobs, it's essential to
rate them by what you need the vehicle to do.
All the trucks were diesel-powered. The Ford carried a 6.7-L Power Stroke V8 making 440 horsepower and 860
lbs.-ft. of torque, while the Ram used a 6.7-L Cummins inline six-cylinder producing 385 horses and 850 lbs.-ft.
But in the final tallies, the judges preferred the GMC's 6.6-L Duramax V8 diesel, making 397 horsepower and
765 lbs.-ft. of torque. It consistently out-accelerated the other two. It also got high marks for how well its engine
and transmission were integrated with its exhaust brake and cruise control. There were many other things we
considered, although some were plus or minus depending on preference. The GMC was the vault-quiet model,
while Ford was the noisiest: some judges liked quiet, while others thought that if you were going all-out with a
diesel, you wanted to hear it. Ford's tailgate-integrated ladder step was more complicated than GMC's cut-out
bumper step, but both beat the Ram, which has no easy way to get into the box.
Ford's electric-extending mirrors were best for visibility, while Ram's fold-up versions went into the "simple is
best" category. Ram left little room for feet in the passenger's foot well, while GMC's was only slightly better.
Ford had the only flat rear floor, not counting a chintzy fold-out panel on Ram, which made it the best for
loading cargo through the rear doors.
Ram took it in the looks department both inside and out, with GMC's cabin close behind it. The Super Duty's
dash looks dated but it'll get a makeover, as well as an aluminum body, when the all-new F-150 comes out
later this year.
We drove 'em, we towed with 'em and we hauled with 'em, and this year, the GMC got its nose in front at the
wire. But as always, when you're shopping for a truck, look at the big picture and check it thoroughly for all the
things you specifically need it to do.
[email protected]
© 2014 Torstar Corporation
Illustration:
• The second-place Ram 3500 one-ton carries a 1,814-kilogram load of shingles in the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Each pulling
a "fifth wheel" unit, the Ford F-350, GMC Sierra 3500 and Ram 3500 face off in the trailering portion of the Canadian Truck King
Challenge. The GMC Sierra Denali 3500 was the narrow winner of the Canadian Truck King Challenge, held this time for heavy-duty
trucks only. Jil McIntosh photos FOR THE TORONTO STAR
Edition: ONT
Length: 712 words
Return to top
GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado fill the mid-size pickup void;
Two-mid-sizers look to revitalize a moribund segment
globeandmail.com
Sat Oct 11 2014, 6:00am ET
Section: Other
Byline: JEREMY SINEK
One in seven vehicles sold in Canada is a pickup, of which about 95 per cent are full-size. And most of those
are the go-big-or-go-home variety: crew-cab 4x4s powered by V-8 engines.
So when General Motors decided to re-enter the less-large pickup segment, it clearly didn't have small-footprint
minimalism in mind.
Reinvented for 2015 (GM hit the pause button on the previous Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon in 2012),
the new Colorado and Canyon are mid-size pickups, not compact ones. They may be handily trimmer than their
Silverado/Sierra brethren, but they still out-bulk both their own predecessors and their aging competition.
Still, with around 400 kilograms less mass, and a choice of four-cylinder or V-6 engines, the newcomers
promise to go lighter on gas than the full-sizers - an advantage that can only grow when a diesel joins the mix
next year.
With the GMC version pitched as more premium than the blue-collar Chev, the newcomers offer various
combos of the two engines, extended or crew cabs (no regular cab), 2WD or 4WD, and various trim levels.
Automatic is optional on the base model, and standard on all others. A sophisticated 4WD option includes a
full-time automatic mode as well as dual-range locked 4WD.
As it should be, pricing is well below the full-size models.
On the road, I especially liked the feel of the electric power steering and the firm, progressive brakes. The V-6
accelerates assertively, with an almost V-8-like throb that helps it come across like a "real" truck; the fourcylinder is surprisingly smooth, but it's somewhat
needling soundtrack is amplified by the fact that it's busily beavering away even at moderate velocities.
GM hasn't re-invented the pickup genre here, but with only two other choices, these capable and decent-todrive pickups should revitalize a segment that was close to extinction.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
You'll like these if ... A full-size is too much truck, but you don't want to be seen driving a toy pickup.
TECH SPECS
Base price: $19,900
Engines: 2.5-litre four-cylinder; 3.6-litre V-6
Drive: Rear-wheel drive or multi-mode four-wheel drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 12.2 city/9.1 highway
Alternatives: Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma
RATINGS
Looks: If you like to bully other road users, you'll want the GMC version, with its aggressive grille. Even the
tamer Chev, though, looks convincingly tough and rugged.
Interior: The driver gets a functional yet comfortable office and the Crew Cab's rear quarters can fit most sizes
of adult in decent comfort.
Technology: State-of-the-art connectivity (including a WiFi hotspot), active safety aids such as forward-collision
and lane-departure warning, and a standard back-up camera.
Performance: Despite great steering feel and a solid brake pedal, these are not exactly sport trucks.
Cargo:
GM has given Colorado and Canyon segment-leading payload and tow ratings, and their cargo beds are
deeper and more voluminous than the opposition's.
The Verdict
8.0
A handier-sized, lower-priced and less-thirsty alternative to full-size pickups, with modern amenities, yet still
possessing more capability than most owners will ever need.
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© 2014 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Length: 538 words
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PLACE AUX CAMIONNETTES COMPACTES ; RETOUR DU
COLORADO ET CANYON
Le Journal de Québec
Sun Oct 12 2014
Page: A10
Section: Autonet
Byline: JACQUES DESHAIES
Après la disparition de ces deux camionnettes de plus petit format, il y a quelques années. Dans un marché
aux tendances grand format, le Colorado et son cousin, le GMC Canyon, n'ont pu réussir à se tailler une place
de choix. De plus, les constructeurs japonais s'étaient installés agressivement dans ce segment.
Mais voilà que le constructeur américain récidive avec le retour de ses deux camionnettes. Réalisées sur la
même base, elles affichent des éléments de présentation distincts. Dans le cas du Chevrolet, la partie avant
est plus effilée et se marie presque aux voitures de la marque. Pour le GMC, la robustesse est palpable avec
cette grande grille et le protège moteur appliqué sur la partie centrale du bouclier avant.
Afin d'affronter la concurrence avec brio, les Colorado/Canyon offrent la plus puissante sélection de moteurs
de la catégorie. D'entrée, le moteur quatre cylindres de 2,5 litres offre plus de 200 ch et 191 lb-pi de couple.
Vous pouvez aussi opter pour le V6 de 3,6 litres qui propose plus de 305 ch et 269 lb-pi de couple. Quant aux
boîtes de vitesse, l'automatique à six rapports est de série. Une boîte manuelle à six rapports est offerte avec
le moteur quatre cylindres seulement. Et dans la version deux roues motrices seulement, par surcroît. Ces
deux nouvelles camionnettes peuvent également recevoir le rouage intégral pour une meilleure traction, quel
que soit l'état de la chaussée.
Notez qu'avec le moteur V6, la capacité de remorquage s'élève à 3 175 kilos. L'autre grande nouveauté réside
dans l'ajout d'un moteur Diesel en cours d'année. Le Duramax turbodiesel de 2,8 L. Cette camionnette s'équipe
de série de plusieurs commodités comme le système de chargement à deux niveaux. Ce système permet de
transporter des vélos dans la partie supérieure tout en déposant tous les bagages dans la boîte de
chargement. Des séparateurs sont aussi proposés en option. Les technologies sont aussi nombreuses. Entre
autres, le système de correction de trajectoire StabiliTrack avec dispositif antiroulis est de série. Les
Colorado/Canyon sont également équipées d'un écran multimédia tactile de huit pouces. Vous pourrez ainsi
contrôler plusieurs fonctions du véhicule au simple toucher de l'écran. Ces commandes peuvent se faire aussi
par commande vocale. D'autres applications sont également proposées afin de vous rendre la vie plus facile.
Edition: final
Note: AUTO ET ENTRETIEN AUTO
Length: 372 words
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PICK-UP: LES MEILLEURS DE 2015
Le Journal de Montréal
Sun Oct 12 2014
Page: A3
Section: Autonet
Byline: VINCENT NOËL
Column: Palmarès
GMC SIERRA 1500 2015
Le souci du détail définit bien le Sierra 1500. Le modèle 2014 (photo) a remporté le prix de la meilleure
nouvelle camionnette selon l'AJAC, donc aucun changement n'est à prévoir pour l'édition 2015. Le prix du
1500 n'a pas encore été dévoilé (le 2500HD 2015 est offert à partir de 38 300 $).GM
NISSAN FRONTIER 2015
Le Frontier n'est pas le plus robuste, mais il pourrait vous convenir, selon les tâches que vous lui réservez. Le
modèle S est abordable (le véhicule 2014 est actuellement en vente à 20 998 $, une légère augmentation est à
prévoir pour le 2015) et sa consommation est enviable (10,8 et 8,6 L/100 km, en ville/sur route). Nissan
FORD F-150 2015
Le F-150 continuera sans doute de trôner au sommet des ventes au Canada. La version 2015 sera étoffée
d'une multitude d'innovations, lesquelles sont protégées par plus d'une centaine de brevets. Disponible à la fin
de l'année 2014, le véhicule offrira notamment une plus grande capacité de remorquage et de chargement que
les générations précédentes. Offert à partir de 21 399 $. Ford
CHEVROLET COLORADO 2015
Le Colorado revient en force cet automne (sa production avait cessé en 2012). Le nouveau pick-up
intermédiaire bénéficie d'une panoplie de nouvelles technologies qui pourraient vous accommoder. Si vous
êtes curieux et prêt pour un changement, un essai routier s'impose. Prix à confirmer.GM
TOYOTA TUNDRA 2015
Pour répondre aux besoins diversifiés des conducteurs canadiens, la gamme Tundra 2015 offre dix modèles et
27 groupes d'options. Le pick-up est notamment équipé d'un système audio à écran tactile et d'une caméra de
recul de série. Deux motorisations s'offrent à vous, le 4,6 litres (couple de 327 lb-pi) et le 5,7 litres (couple de
401 lb-pi). Prix à partir de 29 140 $. Toyota
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 2015
Un pick-up pleine grandeur fiable et bien pensé au niveau de l'ergonomie. Le moteur V6 EcoTec3 de 5,3 litres
(355 chevaux) est le plus populaire, mais vous pourriez aussi opter pour le 4,3 litres (285 chevaux) ou le 6,2
litres (420 chevaux). Selon vos besoins, le groupe de remorquage Max est offert en option. Le prix du 1500 n'a
pas encore été dévoilé (le 2500HD 2015 est offert à partir de 38 200 $).GM
HONDA RIDGELINE 2015
Ce pick-up de ville est apprécié pour sa tenue de route qui s'apparente à celle d'une voiture. Le moteur V6 de
3,5 litres génère une puissance de 250 chevaux et un couple de 247 lb-pi. Le look civilisé du Ridgeline me
plaît. Prix à confirmer (sans doute un peu plus de 35K). Photo : modèle sport 2014. Honda
RAM 1500 2015
Le V6 EcoDiesel de 3,0 litres proposé dans la série Ram 1500 est si intéressant que le manufacturier peine à
répondre à la demande. Le confort et l'équipement sont deux autres atouts de ce populaire pick-up. Une
dizaine de niveaux de finition vous sont suggérés et les accessoires sont dignes d'un véhicule de luxe. Prix à
confirmer (le modèle 2014 est actuellement en vente à partir de 19 995 $). Ram
TOYOTA TACOMA 2015
L'année 2015 marquera le 20e anniversaire du Tacoma. Les modèles 4x2 et 4x4 sont disponibles avec une
motorisation 4 cylindres de 2,7 litres (159 ch., couple de 180 lb-pi) et V6 de 4,0 litres (236 ch., couple de 266
lb-pi). Pour un peu plus de style, de confort et de commodités, considérez le groupe d'options SR5. Prix à partir
de 25 650 $. Toyota
FORD SUPER DUTY 2015
Fiable, efficace et robuste. Le Super Duty, dont la réputation n'est plus à faire, est disponible en 15 modèles.
Pour les différentes déclinaisons du F-250 et du F-350, vous avez le choix entre le moteur diesel V8 Power
Stroke de 6,7 litres à 4 soupapes et le moteur à essence V8 à carburant mixte de 6,2 litres à 2 soupapes.
Offert à partir de 30 561 $.GM
Edition: final
Length: 569 words
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2015 Chevrolet Suburban; Day 4 - Autos.ca
autos.ca
Tue Oct 14 2014
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CHEVROLET EN 2015: DU MUSCLE COMME JAMAIS
Le Journal de Québec
Sun Oct 12 2014
Page: A12
Section: Autonet
Byline: ALAIN MCKENNA
Chevrolet poursuit la modernisation de sa gamme encore cette année. 2015 ne marque pas de changement
radical pour la marque américaine, qui mise sur la mise à jour de valeurs sûres afin d'attirer les acheteurs.
CHEVROLET COLORADO
On ne considère pas le marché des camionnettes intermédiaires comme un créneau en forte croissance en
raison d'une concurrence féroce du côté des camionnettes plein format. Chevrolet compte renverser la
tendance avec la Colorado, une nouvelle camionnette plus compacte et moins gourmande... tout de même
capable de remorquer de grosses charges.
Chez Chevrolet, on présente la Colorado comme étant aussi polyvalente qu'une camionnette, et aussi
maniable et confortable qu'une grosse familiale. Sous le capot, on a le choix entre un quatre cylindres de 2,5
litres et 200 chevaux, ou un six cylindres de 306 chevaux, pour des versions à deux ou à quatre roues
motrices. D'un extrême à l'autre, la Colorado V6 à deux roues motrices peut consommer aussi peu que 8,7
litres aux 100 kilomètres sur autoroute, sa contrepartie équipée pour le remorquage pouvant tirer jusqu'à 3150
kilos (7000 livres).
À l'avant, le choix de cabine est typique: cabine allongée ou cabine d'équipage sont au menu. Dans les deux
cas, un système d'infodivertissement dernier cri permet de rester connecté en tout temps. En matière de
technologie, la Colorado a droit à quelques éléments de sécurité attrayants, dont l'alerte de changement de
voie et l'alerte de risque de collision frontale.
CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06
La Corvette a fait bel effet au cours des derniers mois et l'édition Z06, de haute performance, en rajoute une
couche. Il faut dire que la suralimentation, une première pour la Z06, ajoute du muscle là où il faut, tandis que
le reste de la mécanique lui assure un comportement digne de sportives autrement bien plus exotiques.
Deux statistiques témoignent du souci des ingénieurs d'offrir plus que la simple puissance brute. Bon, les 650
chevaux et 650 livres-pied du V8 n'y prendront pas ombrage, avec un 0-100 km/h en quelque 3 secondes...
Cela grâce à une nouvelle boîte automatique à huit rapports. De leur côté, des freins Brembo de carbonecéramique assurent un freinage aussi efficace, la Corvette Z06 étant la Chevrolet qui effectue le 100-0 km/h
sur la plus courte distance jamais enregistrée, à 30,36 m. Ces caractéristiques de performance s'ajoutent à
une silhouette resituant la Corvette dans la modernité et prenant un nouveau virage par rapport aux
générations précédentes. À l'intérieur aussi, même si l'espace demeure toujours aussi limité, on note un souci
de rehausser l'expérience de conduite, grâce à une ergonomie et un design au goût du jour.
CHEVROLET TAHOE
Du Cadillac Escalade au GMC Yukon, en passant par les Chevrolet Suburban et Tahoe, c'est l'ensemble de la
gamme des gros VUS de General Motors qui a été redessinée, au cours des derniers mois. Du lot, le Tahoe
est la version la plus populaire. Elle fait l'objet d'une foule d'efforts afin de redorer le blason d'une catégorie qui
souffre cruellement d'un sérieux déficit d'image, taille, poids et consommation obligent.
Eh bien Chevrolet répond à la critique et propose une édition 2015 du Tahoe entièrement revisitée, plus
aérodynamique, plus raffinée et moins gourmande. Une voie élargie, une structure renforcée et une
suspension modernisée rendent ce gros VUS plus habile sur la route, tandis que les freins, la direction et
d'autres composants mécaniques ont été revus afin d'assurer une capacité de remorquage accrue.
Sous le capot, un V8 de 5,3 litres est de mise, lequel a eu droit à plusieurs révisions techniques afin d'être à la
fois un peu plus souple, côté puissance, et un peu plus avare, côté carburant. GM assure qu'en combinant
cette mécanique à sa nouvelle silhouette, le Tahoe consomme désormais 10 pour cent moins d'essence sur
l'autoroute.
À l'intérieur, outre l'espace abondant pour les passagers ou pour le cargo, grâce aux banquettes entièrement
rabattables, un choix de matériaux un peu plus raffinés rehausse le caractère confortable du Tahoe. À cela
s'ajoute une sono multimédia à grand écran très polyvalente, comme le veut la mode du moment. Des cadrans
multifonctions font aussi leur apparition derrière le volant, pour une conduite plus sécuritaire et mieux informée.
Edition: final
Note: AUTO ET ENTRETIEN AUTO
Length: 675 words
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ET