Issue link: http://pfmmag.epubxp.com/i/77229
FOCUS New Patrol Vehicles I Dodge Summer Police Advisory Board ler is committed to fleet sales was the un- expected appearance and address by Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Chrysler-FIAT worldwide. "Product is at the heart of what we do." Proof of that comment is the introduc- tion of 16 new or significantly restyled vehicles in the 19 months since their Chapter 11. Tat is 75 percent of their portfolio. When FIAT and Chrysler merged, the au- tomotive press, general public and financial world were all skeptical. "A lot of promises were made…and all of them were kept. All the targets were met." For a recap of the impos- sible situation, go to www.hendonpub.com and search the article archives for "Te Rest of the Story." Te happy ending is that Chrysler Group repaid in full and with interest all of the money borrowed from the U.S. and Canadian governments. It paid off these taxpayer loans six years ahead of schedule. Chrysler Group has improved the percep- tion of, and the reality of, the quality of Chrys- ler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles. In terms of quality of design and quality of manufac- turing, the 3.6L Pentastar V6 was selected as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for the second consecutive year. Chrysler Group is in their 26th consecu- tive month of sales gains. Te residual value of Chrysler Group fleet vehicles continues to outpace AIG predictions. Te Charger has one of the highest residuals of any sedan in its seg- ment. Te residuals going up drives the total cost of ownership down. Te order-to-delivery days are the best of any police automaker. Chrysler Group offi- cials point to flexible manufacturing plants, global economies of scale, and shared plat- forms between Chrysler and FIAT for some of the turnaround success. For example, the new Dodge Dart compact-class sedan built in Belvidere, Ill. uses the Alfa Romeo "Giulietta" platform. In terms of fuel economy, the basic gasoline internal combustion engine is getting a lot of attention. Evidence of this is the new Multi- Air valve technology, the dual-dry clutch transmission, and widespread use of the ZF 8-speed transmission. However, like all auto- makers, Chrysler Group is engineering a num- ber of alternate fuels and propulsion systems. In a bluntness in keeping with his no-non- sense management style, Marchionne gave his insight into alternate fuel. "We cannot make the 2020-2025 CAFE fuel mileage standards with gasoline internal combustion engines." Tey just launched a 2013 Ram 2500 CNG, and announced an all-electric FIAT 500. A Ram 1500 Partial Hybrid Elec- tric Vehicle (PHEV) is in the works, as is a PHEV Chrysler Town & Country minivan. Te Ram CNG is a bi-fuel with a 750-mile total range. It starts on gasoline, immediately changes to CNG until the tank is empty, and then automatically switches back to gas. FIAT leads Europe in CNG technology. CNG is about $2 per gallon-equivalent less expensive than gasoline. While CNG in- frastructure (filling stations) is still limited, CNG is abundant and a real energy depen- dency solution. Post your comments on this story by visiting www.pfmmag.com Circle Reader Service #12 or click on EInfo at www.pfmmag.com 24 Police Fleet Manager Jul-Aug 2012