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FCA to make 1 million face masks a month for North America coronavirus fight

MILAN, Italy — Italian-U.S. car giant Fiat Chrysler has confirmed plans to produce a million face masks a month and said it will distribute them to emergency services in North America to help the fight against coronavirus. FCA, which is also trying to help produce badly needed respirators for patients in intensive care in Italy, is one of a number of large manufacturers adapting production lines to make products in desperately short supply. "Production capacity is being installed this week and the company will start manufacturing face masks in the coming weeks with initial distribution across the United States, Canada and Mexico," it said in a statement released late on Monday. The monthly output of 1 million masks will be donated to police, emergency medical staff, firefighters and to workers in hospitals and health care clinics, it said. The decision to begin distribution of masks in North America rather than Italy, the company's other home country, underlines the difficult balance global companies are having to maintain as they weigh where to offer help in the emergency. Face masks and other protective equipment for medical staff have been running out across the world as thousands of new cases of the highly contagious virus have arrived in hospitals daily. Fiat's position as a historic pillar of Italian industry makes the issue of where to provide help sensitive, especially as Italy is the country worst hit by the virus so far. Both FCA and its controlling shareholder Exor, the investment firm of Italy's Agnelli family, have offered significant assistance to efforts to handle the crisis in Italy, where almost 6,000 people have died. FCA and luxury automaker Ferrari, also controlled by Exor, are in talks with Siare, Italy's biggest respirator manufacturer, to help it double production of the life-saving machines. In addition, the Agnelli family said last week it was donating 10 million euros to fight the virus emergency in Italy. It said companies controlled by Exor bought 150 ventilators and other medical equipment abroad, provided vehicles for support of people in need and were in touch with Italian authorities to help them buy medical equipment and healthcare products abroad. As part of the process, an Exor spokesman said on Tuesday the group had made an initial purchase of 250,000 face masks in China which would be distributed in Italy and were expected to arrive by the end of this week. Related Video:    

India's classic Premier Padmini taxi killed by emissions laws

As part of an eco-conscious measure to fight pollution in 2008, the government in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, banned all taxis 25 years and older. In 2013, that was changed to 20 years old. With each ruling, thousands of Premier Padmini taxis, an iconic car that transported the people of Mubai for decades, have disappeared from the roads. At the end of 2019, it was estimated that about 50 late-year Padminis were still driving, and in 2020, the survivors will cruise their last rides. An article from NPR explores the vehicle's history and the impact it had on the region's culture. The Padmini's origins begin in the '60s in the form of a Fiat 1100D, also known as a Delight 1100. The Fiat model served as the base for what first debuted as the Premier President from Premier Automobiles. It was later renamed the Premier Padmini after a famous Indian royal.  The car became extremely popular and sales shot up as it became the taxi of choice. Officials estimate roughly 60,000 Padminis were in Mumbai at the car's peak. Unfortunately, an open market and an influx of modern cars in the '90s doomed the black and yellow taxi, and production ended in 2000. Their last month to drive is June 2020. As the car becomes more myth than tangible reality, some artists have dedicated their works to honoring a vehicle that serviced millions of people from numerous generations. Check out the full article on NPR.   This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Ram and Fiat working on possible midsize pickup for global markets

The midsize pickup segment is enjoying a recent boom globally, with updated models like the new Ford Ranger on the way and a revised Toyota Hilux already testing. The next automaker to take the plunge into the market might be FCA with this recently spotted, highly camouflaged truck. Click through the gallery to see the pickup wearing two different disguises during cold-weather testing. Unfortunately, they keep the truck very well hidden, and even the bed is covered in both of them. Still, it appears that the front end wears a fairly upright design, and the four-door cab is obvious. Also, take a look at the rear to spot coil springs for the suspension, rather than leaf springs. According to our spies, this vehicle's size is larger than the current front-wheel drive Fiat Strada and is closer in dimensions to models like the Ranger and Hilux. Of course, the most intriguing question is whether FCA might bring this vehicle to the US as a Ram competitor against the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. The company's five-year plan makes no mention of such a model here through at least 2018, though. However, Europe and South America are set to receive a midsize pickup in 2016. Perhaps, that's what we are seeing here. Related Video: Featured Gallery Fiat-Ram Pickup Spy Shots View 14 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Design/Style Spy Photos Fiat RAM Truck FCA