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Pininfarina launches Classiche certification program for vintage cars

Pininfarina is focused on its future as a carmaker, but it's not forgetting about its past as a design house and contract manufacturer. The brand launched a certification program called Pininfarina Classiche that aims to give enthusiasts valuable details about their vintage car. Only two cars will initially be certifiable by Pininfarina: the four evolutions of the Alfa Romeo Spider built between 1966 and 1993 and the different versions of the Fiat 124 Spider sold from 1966 to 1985. Pininfarina designed both roadsters, and it notably took over production and sales of the Fiat model in 1982. American sales of the Pininfarina-badged Spider started for 1984 following Fiat's exit from our market. The certification service aims to provide collectors with production-related data about their car. This includes the chassis number, the market it was built for, the original paint and upholstery colors, the date that the car left Pininfarina's factory, as well as any and all other details that are available, such as the engine number and, for convertibles, the color of the soft top. Pininfarina notes that it waited until 2024 to offer this service because providing it required cataloging its archives, which took about two years, and using an archive management software. Enthusiasts who want to get their car certified need to reach out to Pininfarina. The firm will look through its archives and give the customer a list of what's available. The certification costs ˆ400 (about $430) for cars built before 1980 and ˆ300 (around $330) for post-1980 models.  Pininfarina has designed and built dozens of cars since its inception in 1930, and it plans to expand its Classiche service in the near future. It notes that its archives department includes production serial numbers for over 700,000 cars and more than 20,000 historical documents such as design sketches, technical blueprints, photos taken on the assembly line, and correspondence with the carmakers it worked with. Related video: Featured Gallery Pininfarina classics View 11 Photos Alfa Romeo Fiat Convertible Classics PininFarina

FCA recalls 1.25M trucks for software error in fatal crash

WASHINGTON - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said Friday it would recall more than 1.25 million pickup trucks worldwide to address a software error linked to reports of one crash death and two injuries. The error code could temporarily disable the side air bag and seat belt pretensioner deployment during a vehicle rollover spurred by a significant underbody impact, such as striking onroad debris or driving off-road, the Italian-American automaker said. The company will reprogram computer modules in the affected vehicles to address this error. The recall covers 1.02 million 2013-16 Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups, and 2014-2016 Ram 3500 pickups in the United States, 216,007 vehicles in Canada; 21,668 in Mexico; and 21,530 outside North America, the automaker said. Fiat Chrysler said the recall would begin in late June. In the event of the software error code, the problem could temporarily be addressed by turning the vehicle off and then on, the company said. The automaker told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it began investigating the issue in December after it received notice of a suit involving a 2014 Ram 1500 in which the airbag failed to deploy in a rollover crash.Reporting by David ShepardsonRelated Video: Recalls Chrysler Fiat Truck FCA airbag fiat chrysler automobiles

Former UAW official gets 15 months in labor corruption case

DETROIT (Reuters) - A federal judge in Detroit on Monday sentenced the former United Auto Workers union vice president in charge of relations with Fiat Chrysler to 15 months in federal prison for misusing funds intended for worker training to pay for luxury travel, golf, liquor and parties for himself and other union officials. Norwood Jewell, 61, who led the UAW's national contract negotiations with Fiat Chrysler in 2015, is the highest ranking UAW official to be sentenced in connection with a wide-ranging federal investigation of corruption within the union that represents U.S. factory workers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors and Ford. Jewell pleaded guilty in April to a single charge of violating the Labor Relations Management Act. At the time, prosecutors proposed a prison sentence of 12 to 18 months. U.S. District Judge Paul Borman rejected Jewell's request to avoid prison and serve his sentence under house arrest. "He betrayed his position," Borman said from the bench. Jewell is the eighth former UAW or Fiat Chrysler official sentenced as part of the federal criminal investigation of UAW finances. Federal prosecutors are continuing to investigate the misuse of company and union funds at the Detroit automakers. Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Mike Manley, during a meeting with reporters last week, declined to discuss whether the company is in talks with federal authorities or whether he has been interviewed by investigators. Federal prosecutors have said Fiat Chrysler officials conspired in the misuse of $4.5 million in training center funds. Fiat Chrysler's former vice president of labor relations, Alphons Iacobelli, pleaded guilty in January 2018 to charges of violating the Labor Management Relations Act and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors charged Iacobelli with making hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper payments to charities controlled by UAW officials, and agreeing to pay off the mortgage of a now-deceased UAW vice president, General Holiefield. Prosecutors said Jewell accepted over $90,000 in illegal payments from Fiat Chrysler for his own benefit and to pay for travel, golf outings, parties and other entertainment for senior UAW leaders. "The parties included thousands of dollars in Fiat Chrysler money spent on 20 boxes of cigars, ultra-premium liquor, personalized bottles of wine, and women paid to light the cigars of senior UAW leaders," federal prosecutors said in a statement on Monday.