News

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced that it will stop using Takata airbag inflators that don't contain a chemical drying agent that have been proved to be less safe. The plan is to go in place as soon as next week until all units are removed in mid-September.

The inflators in question are ones that aren't equipped with a non-desiccated ammonium-nitrate chemical. In the FCA lineup, it appears that the Jeep Wrangler is the only model that comes with these specific airbags, which won't be a big overhaul for the Detroit-based automaker.

Takata has been in the news and under close scrutiny for over a year for having faulty airbags that could potentially deploy and spray out shrapnel into the face and body of the driver and passengers. The Japanese airbag company has had to deal with close to 70 million recalls worldwide since 2008 from 15 different automakers. Due to the explosive airbags, 13 reported deaths have been confirmed along with more than 100 other injuries reported.

Sergio Marchionne, the current Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO will add Ferrari boss to his resume.

In a recent press release, Ferrari appointed the Italian-Canadian Marchionne to be its company CEO, while retaining his title as chairman of the Maranello-based brand.

Marchionne will replace Amedeo Felisa, who plans to retire after 26 years at Ferrari. Felisa will still remain to serve on Ferrari's board of directors, as well as a technical adviser.

Since becoming chairman at Ferrari in the fall of 2015, Marchionne has focused on global expansion. So far this year, Ferrari has increased its global sales by 15 per cent over 2015 numbers over that same period.

Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco is only a few days away, and now we have the complete schedule of automaker television spots that will be featured on American tubes. Yes, unfortunately Canadian commercial coverage continues for one more year before we get to see the million dollar American ads.

The lineup for 2016 includes nine automakers: Acura, Audi, Buick, FCA, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mini and Toyota. Most of them feature celebrities and athletes, so let's take a closer look at a few of them before you get to check them out on YouTube after the game. 

Acura will showcase its NSX supercar to the delight of many who've been waiting for years to get their hands on one. Sales start shortly and Acura will take the opportunity to present it to the world featuring Van Halen music.

Hyundai is the new automotive NFL sponsor, so you knew they would have a big spot when it came to the big game. Hyundai will actually have four commercials total throughout the game. Two of them will feature celebrities in Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds. Hart plays a meddlesome father that attempts to track his daughter on her first date, while Reynolds attempts to distract a woman driver in various guises.

Kia will utilize Christopher Walken's skills in a spot called “Walken Closet.” It will feature the 2016 Kia Optima and sock puppets performed by Walken.

A first-timer to the Super Bowl party will be Buick. Buick's ad will showcase the Cascada convertible and feature New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. And actress/model Emily Ratajkowski.

The Super Bowl between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will begin its coverage this Sunday, February 7 at 6:30 ET on CBS.

For the first time, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has taken top spot in annual new vehicles sales in Canada. 

In a record year for vehicle sales in Canada that saw 1.898 million new vehicles sold, the FCA surged ahead of its main competitors at Ford and General Motors, mainly due to an increase in light truck sales that include trucks, SUVs and the ever-increasing in popularity crossovers. 

For the FCA brand, the main driving force for them was the Jeep Cherokee that saw an increase of 41 per cent from its 2014 sales. 

In total, the FCA sold 293,061 vehicles, followed by Ford Motor Company at 278,531 with General Motors taking third with 263,335. 

If you look at it from a specific best-selling brand, Ford maintained its top spot for a seventh consecutive year, largely due to the Ford F-Series that saw its trucks continue to be the best-selling vehicle for a sixth consecutive year and the best-selling pickup in Canada for an incredible 50th consecutive year. 

According to a statistical report from industry analyst DesRosiers, sales of light trucks rose 8.8 per cent, while the sales of cars saw a decline by 6.3 per cent. The decline is reflected in the sales of the Honda Civic that retained its spot as the best-selling Canadian car for an 18th consecutive year, but slipped in sales from its 2014 numbers by 1.7 per cent for a final total of 64,950 units.