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Fiat Chrysler taps Amazon, Shell execs to fill roles

MILAN — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is tapping executives from Amazon and Shell Oil Company with previous automotive industry experience to fill its ranks. CEO Mike Manley said in a letter to employees Thursday that Mark Stewart would join FCA as chief operating officer of North America from Amazon, "a company known for its culture of innovation, and obsession with delivering incredible value to customers." At Amazon, Stewart led teams focused on advanced robotics, artificial intelligence and automation methods. He previously was COO of ZF TRW automotive components supplier. Niel Golightly was named head of global communications. He was most recently Shell's vice president for external relations in North and South America, with a focus on reputation, brand and stakeholder engagement beyond communication strategies. He previously held roles at Ford Motor Company. Related Video: Image Credit: REUTERS/Rebecca Cook Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM FCA Amazon shell Mike Manley

Jeep reveals Grand Cherokee SRT Night, Wrangler Backcountry

Another major car show is almost upon us, and you know what that means. That's right, boys and girls – another pair of custom Jeeps. Far be it from us to complain, though, especially when the pair of SUVs debuting at the LA Auto Show this month aren't just for show. These will actually be offered to the public as new special editions. In one corner we have the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night edition, with all the brightwork replaced with black. The roof, rear spoiler, front grille bezels, pillars, and window surrounds are all done up in gloss black, while the wheels – custom 20-inch jobs – as well as the front applique and badging have all been given a satin black treatment. The interior, as you might have guessed, is also predominantly black, with black leather, black chrome bezels, and silver stitching. Buyers will be able to choose between deep red, silver, or dark gray exterior colors, but either way they'll be getting the same 6.4-liter V8 – all 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of it. In the other corner is the Jeep Wrangler Backcountry. This one's based on the Wrangler Sahara and features a special off-road front bumper, powder-coated rear bumper, and the 17-inch wheels and rock rails from the Wrangler Rubicon. The interior features piano-black trim, leather and mesh seats, vinyl accents, nine-speaker Alpine sound system, and more. It'll be available in five colors – blue, black, white, gray or purple – with special graphics (because nothing says "backcountry" quite like neon pink decals on a purple Jeep) and a standard black (or optional body-colored) hardtop. The Wrangler Backcountry will be reaching dealers around the same time as its live debut towards the end of this month. Don't expect to see the GC Night edition on the streets until early next year, though. Pricing for either has yet to be announced, but you can scope out the details of both in the press release below. Jeep® Introduces Two New Special-edition Models at the Los Angeles Auto Show - New 2016 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT Night boasts stealth-like premium black appearance, with black roof and lightweight performance wheels - New 2016 Wrangler Backcountry delivers enthusiasts a unique Jeep SUV loaded with off-road capability features to tackle the toughest winter months November 12, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich.

Feds chastise Marchionne over Jeep recall, only 13% repaired so far

Following the significant outcry surrounding the General Motors and Takata airbag safety crises this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seems to be taking a much more aggressive role in pushing owners to repair their recalled vehicles. In the agency's latest move, it's urging Jeep drivers to get their models fixed. Acting NHTSA administrator David Friedman even sent a letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne pressing him to get more of the SUVs fixed. The problem goes back to the recall of the 2002-2007 Liberty and 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee because of the possibility for the fuel tank to rupture in some rear crashes. The campaign affected over 1.5 million vehicles, but Chrysler initially refused NHTSA's request for a repair campaign. The automaker eventually came up with a fix that involved adding a trailer hitch to provide extra protection to the tank. The feds believe the danger "will be reduced by the remedy now offered by Chrysler," according to the statement. However, this latest push comes out of NHTSA's concern that only three percent of the affected vehicles are repaired, although Chrysler maintains some 13.4 percent have actually been fixed. The agency is asking the automaker to reach out to owners "proactively," and get them to bring the Jeeps in dealers. According to the the feds' statement, the company "has nearly 400,000 parts available" to perform the fixes, and it's still producing more. Friedman's letter to Marchionne goes even further, alleging NHTSA has received reports that dealers are turning customers away who request the recall. He asks the CEO to prove within 15 days that these claims are false. "Given the low rates of repair that Chrysler has reported more than a year after the recall, significantly more aggressive steps are required," says a portion of the note. According to The Detroit News, Chrysler has subsequently promised to speed up the recall work, vowing that all dealers will have at least 12 repair kits in stock by Monday. Further, it has announced plans to ramp up its notification campaign with Facebook ads and public service announcements. Scroll down to read NHTSA's full statement on the matter, and Friedman's letter to Marchionne can be read in PDF format, here.