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FCA eliminates just under 2,000 supplemental contract workers due to coronavirus constraints

Car companies have jumped in quickly to help combat coronavirus. They’re even beginning to manufacture some of the badly needed medical supplies, like ventilators and masks. However, with stay-at-home orders sweeping across the nation and folks practicing social distancing, automotive sales and manufacturing have quickly dried up in North America. That leads us to todayÂ’s news coming out of FCA. A company spokesperson told us that approximately 2,000 supplemental workers (a subcategory of the companyÂ’s many contract workers) are being laid off. HereÂ’s the official statement from FCA: “In light of the challenges created by the COVID 19 situation, and the various ‘stay at homeÂ’ orders from multiple states, a number of development projects within FCA have been temporarily put on hold. "As a result of this, subcontract companies who were providing external support to a number of these projects have been asked to temporarily suspend their activities as we reprioritize certain initiatives and projects. We will continue to monitor the situation with the intent to return to normal activity as soon as the situation allows.” FCA made it clear in our communications with the company that it is not terminating all contract workers, nor is it terminating any employees of the company itself. The rationale here is that certain development work is on pause, so those who were contracted to be a part of that work are now out. We're told that those workers are in white-collar functions, not manufacturing jobs. We asked FCA if it had plans to reinstate all of the affected workers once the coronavirus crisis has passed, but received no commitment either way. “At this point weÂ’re going to continue to monitor the situation,” a company spokesperson told us. Questions still remain when it comes to the stimulus package moving through Congress right now as it pertains to the automotive industry. FCA says itÂ’s currently studying the bill, but hasnÂ’t offered up a comment on the situation yet. We havenÂ’t heard of any similar cuts happening at Ford or GM yet, but now that FCA has made a move, weÂ’ll be on the lookout for more. Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Chrysler Fiat coronavirus

Pentastar Power: A look inside the Detroit factory that pumps out FCA's potent V6

The Mack Avenue Engine Plant is one of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' most historic and prolific factories. It pumped out 260,000 Pentastar V6 engines last year, providing power for everything from the Jeep Grand Cherokee to the Dodge Challenger. FCA and its predecessor, Chrysler, has owned the factory since 1953 and it briefly built the Dodge Viper in the 1990s. It's made engines since 1998 and began building the Pentastar in 2014. We got an inside look at the mighty Mack, helping to tear down a Pentastar engine and then a tour of the factory floor. This is what it's like. Plants/Manufacturing Chrysler Fiat Videos Original Video pentastar v6

FCA CEO Mike Manley will run Americas for Stellantis after PSA merger

DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley will run operations in the Americas when his company merges with FranceÂ’s PSA Peugeot early next year. FCA Chairman John Elkann announced ManleyÂ’s new post on Friday in a letter to employees. ManleyÂ’s role in the merged company had been a mystery. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares will run the overall company, to be named Stellantis. Shareholders of both companies will vote on the merger Jan. 4 to seal the deal creating the worldÂ’s fourth-largest automaker. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of March. PSA will get six seats on the new companyÂ’s 11-member board, which will be chaired by Elkann. The Americas, especially the U.S., are key to the new companyÂ’s success. Fiat ChryslerÂ’s Jeep and Ram brands are highly profitable, and Tavares has long wanted to sell PSA vehicles in the U.S. Manley has been the Italian-American automakerÂ’s CEO for 2 1/2 years, taking over when Sergio Marchionne died in 2018. Stellantis will have the capacity to produce 8.7 million cars a year, just behind Volkswagen, the Renault-Nissan alliance and Toyota. Related Video: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM Citroen Peugeot Mike Manley Stellantis