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Brand new cars are being sold with defective Takata airbags

If you just bought a 2016 Audi TT, 2017 Audi R8, 2016–17 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, or 2016 Volkswagen CC, we have some unsettling news for you. A report provided to a US Senate committee that oversees the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and reported on by Automotive News claims these vehicles were sold with defective Takata airbags. And it gets worse. Toyota and FCA are called out in the report for continuing to build vehicles that will need to be recalled down the line for the same issue. That's not all. The report also states that of the airbags that have been replaced already in the Takata recall campaign, 2.1 million will need to eventually be replaced again. They don't have the drying agent that prevents the degradation of the ammonium nitrate, which can lead to explosions that can destroy the airbag housing and propel metal fragments at occupants. So these airbags are out there already. We're not done yet. There's also a stockpile of about 580,000 airbags waiting to be installed in cars coming in to have their defective airbags replaced. These 580k airbags also don't have the drying agent. They'll need to be replaced down the road, too. A new vehicle with a defective Takata airbag should be safe to drive, but that margin of safety decreases with time. If all this has you spinning around in a frustrated, agitated mess, there's a silver lining that is better than it sounds. So take a breath, run your fingers through your hair, and read on. Our best evidence right now demonstrates that defective Takata airbags – those without the drying agent that prevents humidity from degrading the ammonium nitrate propellant – aren't dangerous yet. It takes a long period of time combined with high humidity for them to reach the point where they can rupture their housing and cause serious injury. It's a matter of years, not days. So a new vehicle with a defective Takata airbag should be safe to drive, but that margin of safety decreases with time – and six years seems to be about as early as the degradation happens in the worst possible scenario. All this is small comfort for the millions of people who just realized their brand-new car has a time bomb installed in the wheel or dashboard, or the owners who waited patiently to have their airbags replaced only to discover that the new airbag is probably defective in the same way (although newer and safer!) as the old one.

Feds accuse Fiat Chrysler, UAW of conspiring to break labor laws

DETROIT — Top officials of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the United Auto Workers union conspired to violate U.S. labor laws, federal prosecutors alleged in a court document, saying a former executive at the automaker knew bribes paid to union leaders were designed to "grease the skids" in labor negotiations. U.S. Justice Department officials for the first time called the company and the union "co-conspirators" in a document related to a guilty plea agreed by former Fiat Chrysler director of employee relations Michael Brown. The document was filed with the U.S. District Court in Detroit on May 25. Its contents were reported by the Detroit News on Wednesday. Brown pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a felony. The plea agreement stated that he knew Fiat Chrysler executives authorized $1.5 million in improper payments and travel, liquor, cigars and other goods for UAW officials who served on the union's negotiating committee. Prosecutors say FCA executives paid UAW representatives to influence union business. including collective bargaining on contracts ratified in 2011 and 2015. The government contends money was run through the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center, via false charitable donations and training center credit cards. Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has said in the past that the misconduct "had nothing whatsoever to do with the collective bargaining process" and the "egregious acts were neither known to nor sanctioned" by the company. Fiat Chrysler had no further comment Monday. Outgoing UAW President Dennis Williams told union leaders at a conference in Detroit on Monday "our leadership team had no knowledge of the misconduct — which involved former union members and former auto executives — until it was brought to our attention by the government." Brown pleaded guilty on May 25, according to court documents, and will be sentenced on Sept. 20. Five other people have pleaded guilty in the government's ongoing investigation into the UAW and Fiat Chrysler, including the wife of a late UAW official, two other former UAW employees, former Fiat Chrysler vice president Alphons Iacobelli and another former Fiat Chrysler employee. Reporting By David Shepardson and Nick CareyRelated Video: Government/Legal UAW/Unions Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM FCA

Mopar '15 performance kit now available for Dodge Charger R/T

Dodge is releasing a new Mopar performance kit for the 2015 Charger R/T sedan, offering up just 50 examples of the dealer-installed upgrade package. Only a select few dealers will sell the kit, and they'll do so at a price of $3,550. As per usual, the Mopar kit makes both performance and aesthetic changes. For the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, upgrades include the Stage 1 Scat Pack kit, which adds a cat-back exhaust and cold-air intake, good for 18 additional horsepower and 18 more pound-feet of torque. There's also a new strut tower brace and a "premium fuel powertrain control module." Aesthetic changes are remarkably simple, with matte black body-side decals being the only notable addition to the exterior. In the cabin, there's a serialized dash plaque and new door sill plates. This is the sixth Mopar special edition since 2009. If you wish to join this fairly exclusive fraternity of Dodge owners, dealers are currently accepting orders, with deliveries slated to start later this month. Scroll down for the official press release from Dodge. PERFORMANCE IN A BOX: MOPAR '15 PERFORMANCE KIT LAUNCHES FOR 2015 DODGE CHARGER R/T Owners of 2015 Dodge Charger R/T can enhance their ride with a Mopar '15 performance kit 50 limited-edition Mopar '15 performance kits now available through authorized dealerships for an MSRP of $3,550 Mopar '15 follows the success of five special-edition vehicle packages offered by the FCA brand since 2009 Delivery of Mopar '15 performance kits to begin in early June June 8, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Mopar enthusiasts that feel the need to enhance the look and performance of their new 2015 Dodge Charger R/T can now do exactly that with a new Mopar '15 performance kit. With just 50 units available, authorized dealerships are now accepting orders for the limited-edition Mopar '15 kits for an MSRP of $3,550 with delivery to begin in early June. "Mopar has a long history of delivering to enthusiasts performance and customization in unique and convenient packages," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO — Mopar Brand Service, Parts and Customer Care, FCA. "We are now shifting into another gear and offering a limited-edition kit that will allow customers to really enhance the performance and look of their Dodge Charger R/T." The Mopar '15 kit is a street-legal performance package that includes the Scat Pack Performance Stage Kit 1, as well as a front strut tower brace with caps and bright pedal kit.