1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4wd on 2040-cars

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Germany threatens to ban FCA vehicles over diesel emissions dispute

Germany is threatening to ban sales of FCA products over diesel emissions. According to the newspaper Bild Am Sonntag, Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority found evidence of a so-called defeat device that shuts down certain emissions controls after running for 22 minutes. A standard diesel emissions test in the European Union reportedly takes 20 minutes to complete. FCA denies the allegations. "We believe all our vehicles respect EU emissions standards and we believe Italian regulators are the competent authority to evaluate this," the company said in a statement. The latter part of that statement drew ire from German authorities, especially after FCA declined to meet with German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt to discuss the issue. Graziano Delrio, the Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, vowed to work with German authorities on behalf of FCA. According to EU law, FCA is required to homologate its vehicles in Italy because that's where its regional operations are based. When will the diesel-scented soap opera end? We wish we knew, but our Magic 8 Ball is covered in soot. Related Video: News Source: Financial TimesImage Credit: Giuseppe Aresu/Bloomberg via Getty Government/Legal Green Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM Emissions Diesel Vehicles FCA

Stellantis sees vehicle loan durations extended amid banking turmoil

Stellantis is seeing clients seeking longer-term financing and leasing deals for their vehicles as a consequence of higher global interest rates, the carmaker's head for the business said. Chief Affiliates Officer Philippe de Rovira said loans which normally had a three-year maturity were now increasingly moved to four years. "This allows customers to get a car for a monthly instalment that is similar to that they had before," he said. The world's third largest carmaker by sales on Tuesday announced it had completed a plan announced in late 2021 to reshuffle and simplify its leasing and financing operations in Europe. Under its terms, Stellantis created a 50-50 single long term multi-brand leasing company named Leasys with Credit Agricole Consumer Finance. It also set up local joint ventures in European countries for its new Stellantis Financial Services unit, formerly Banque PSA Finance, with BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Santander Consumer Finance. "These banks have always had better funding conditions than those we can have as an automaker," de Rovira said. Benefits of the plan included cutting the number of financing and leasing entities the group runs in each country and the number of IT systems it uses, with expected savings exceeding 30% in this particular area, he added. De Rovira said the group had a huge portfolio of orders it had not yet delivered due to supply chain shortages impacting production. "Demand is not our main issue. The issue is to deliver as fast as we can cars that are in our order portfolio, which is still at record levels," he said. The group aims to expand its corporate leased vehicle fleet to more than one million units in 2026 and to double net income from its so-called banking activities to 5.8 billion euros ($6.3 billion) by 2030. De Rovira said Stellantis was not seeing a downward trend in vehicle pricing. "Probably the significant price increases we have seen in 2021 and 2022 will not be repeated because the context is changing, but for the moment we don't see decreases, we see stabilisation". ($1 = 0.9188 euros) (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari and Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Jan Harvey) Earnings/Financials Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM

Mopar showcases modified Jeeps in Dubai

Showing that FCA is serious about expanding its global reach, Jeep and Mopar have rolled in to the Dubai Motor Show this year with three modified off-roaders. One is based on the Cherokee, and the other two are wrought from the Wrangler. But it's the Cherokee that's getting the lion's share of attention. The vehicle you see pictured here is called the Jeep Cherokee KrawLer. It's based on the Trailhawk, but adopts some special equipment to set it apart. It packs a modified suspension, BFGoodrich off-road tires, widened fenders, skid plates, a pseudo-military matte green paint job and a matching green leather interior from Pelle Frau. Power comes from the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 driving 272 horsepower through a nine-speed automatic and locking rear differential to all four wheels. The name KrawLer emphasizes the KL code by which the current Cherokee is known. Alongside the Cherokee KrawLer, Mopar and Jeep are also showcasing a pair of modified Wranglers. One is the Sahara Sun Runner, done up in matte yellow with a four-inch lift kit and half-doors. The Wranger Dark Side, meanwhile, is based on a two-door Rubicon and features giant tires, flat fenders, and an array of other Mopar components. Alongside those, Jeep is showcasing the Renegade for the first time in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Mopar is also demonstrating its enhancements for the Chrysler 200, Dodge Charger R/T, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, Ram Rebel, Fiat 500X, and the new Fullback pickup from Fiat Professional. The Fiat division will also be on hand to show the new Tipo sedan as well. 10 November 2015 The Jeep® Brand at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show - Premiere for the Middle East of the new Jeep®; Renegade - Three show cars fitted with exclusive Mopar®; accessories: Cherokee KrawLer, Wrangler Sahara Sun Runner and Wrangler Dark Side to star on the stand - Reinforcing the breadth of the Jeep brand, the full current vehicle line-up will be on show at the Middle East's leading automotive event Making its debut for the first time at a leading motor show in the Middle East is the new, recently-introduced Jeep®; Renegade, the compact SUV that boasts the best off-road performance in its segment alongside three Moparised show editions: Cherokee KrawLer, Wrangler Sahara Sun Runner and Wrangler Dark Side.