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Apple picks up former FCA quality boss Doug Betts

Apple made a significant personnel move that further signals its entry into the automotive world, hiring former Fiat Chrysler executive Doug Betts for an unspecified role. The information was obtained by The Wall Street Journal, which cites Betts' LinkedIn page. His career included stints at Toyota and Nissan before joining Chrysler Group (now FCA US LLC) in 2007, although his time there didn't end well. He left FCA, where he served as the automaker's head of quality, after the company's dismal showing in Consumer Reports' 2014 Annual Auto Reliability Survey. According to Betts' LinkedIn profile, which has since been pulled down, his job title reads "Operations – Apple Inc" in the San Francisco Bay area. Apple, meanwhile, was unwilling to divulge anything to the WSJ, although there's plenty to infer based on the hire. Betts wasn't the only big auto-related hire. According to the WSJ, Cupertino also lured an unnamed but "leading" autonomous vehicle researcher from Europe, who will be part of a team being setup to study driverless systems. Related Video:

Ford and Chrysler reducing summer plant shutdowns

Most domestic automaker assembly plants traditionally take a couple of weeks off during the summer. The shutdowns give each plant time for much needed repairs and maintenance, and in some cases, help better align production with demand. Not this year, though, as demand for many models is outstripping what Ford, Chrysler and General Motors plants can produce.
Ford has announced that it will shorten its annual summer shutdown for most North American plants from two weeks to one. The shorter shutdown will increase the carmaker's annual North American production by 40,000 units on top of the 200,000 extra units that it was already planning to produce this year versus last. Automotive News reports that Ford produced 2.8 million vehicles on this continent in 2012, and that output this year has already increased 13 percent through April.
Chrysler, meanwhile, is also operating at full tilt and plans to run some plants through the summer with no shutdown at all. Those not getting a break include Jefferson North where the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango are assembled, Toledo North that will assemble the new Cherokee, and Conner Avenue, home of SRT Viper production. Other assembly plants will be down for a single week, while all of Chrysler's engine and transmission plants except one in Indiana will continue operating with no shutdown this summer.

2015 Chrysler 300 swaggers into LA Auto Show [w/video]

The Chrysler 300 has always exuded a certain brashness, but the chip-on-its-shoulder styling seemed to mellow a bit after its 2011 redesign. Now, the bad boy of the premium sedan segment is getting some of its angry attitude back for 2015, and the refreshed model debuted here at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The grille is larger, the fascia is updated and the lights are redesigned. That doesn't seem like much, but when taken collectively, they give the car a more menacing glare. The inside is freshened with a new seven-inch in-cluster display, better-quality materials and an updated suite of available Uconnect features, and there's a bevy of new active safety features available, too. The engine line continues with the 3.6-liter V6 and the 5.7-liter V8, though they are now both paired with Chrysler's eight-speed automatic. The sedan also received a Sport mode button, which changes the tuning for the steering, engine and transmission, while providing a rear bias for all-wheel drive models. Pricing starts at $31,395, just as it did for the 2014 model. The lineup also gets a new Platinum model with special wood, chrome and leather finishings, though the company also has said it will discontinue the 300's high-performance SRT variant for in the United States. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. New 2015 Chrysler 300: Return of the Big, Bold American Sedan with World-class Levels of Sophistication, Craftsmanship and Technology, Once Again Putting Boulevards and Interstates On Notice The new 2015 Chrysler 300 highlights six decades of ambitious American ingenuity through iconic design proportions inspired by historic 1955 and 2005 models – world-class quality, materials and refinement, best-in-class V-6 highway fuel economy, plus segment-exclusive innovations – all at the same $31,395 starting price as its predecessor.