AUBURN HILLS, Mich.,
Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --
- Establishes unified product development organization
sustained by three strategic activities – core engineering
competencies responsible for addressing key technology
opportunities; transversal program management and execution; and
support for program delivery and management of decoupled
activities
- Streamlined organization to enable optimal workload
balancing
- Better positions FCA to continue its rollout of electrified
propulsion, connectivity and autonomous driving
technologies
- New working environment to benefit product quality while
preserving brand identities and differentiation required to satisfy
regional markets
- Organization led by FCA Chief Technical Officer Harald Wester; structure to be fully operational
in 2020
FCA is leveraging its technological, engineering and management
talent by establishing a streamlined product development
organization with central leadership and a global
footprint.
The new organization will be led by FCA's Chief Technical
Officer Harald Wester.
"The industry has never experienced technological change at the
pace we are now seeing," says FCA Chief Executive Officer
Mike Manley. "So, we're unleashing
the creative energy of our engineers and technical experts for the
benefit of our customers and stakeholders worldwide."
This organization structure will reduce complexity and improve
delivery effectiveness. The resulting efficiency gains will
generate quality improvements while reducing product development
timelines – a critical capability in a market defined by
accelerating technological transformation.
The new organization consolidates three core activities:
engineering; program execution and management; and program support.
Until now, product development had been served by multiple
organizations that operated as regional sub-groups or stand-alone
units.
"Our current structure has produced the most compelling and
diverse product lineup in the industry, from Alfa Romeo to Ram and
everything in between," Wester says. "The level of consolidation
and integration we are now implementing will further enrich our
product offerings – in all markets. And the big winners will be our
customers."
Engineering activities will be supported by five new centers of
technical competence:
- Body, Chassis, Interior and Wiring Integration with the mission
to develop the core vehicle component sets
- Electrical/Electronics and Software, which will develop
electronic architectures
- Propulsion Systems, including electrified as well as
conventional systems
- Total Vehicle Integration
- Advanced Technology and Pre-Development Programs
The new transversal program and execution management functions
will matrix across all the engineering functions, businesses and
brands. These will include a global Vehicle Programs team that will
implement all-new product programs, as well as an Architecture and
Vehicle Concepts unit focused on customer and performance targets,
long-range architecture planning and developing new product
proposals.
These changes afford greater product development agility at a
time when FCA is positioning itself in hyper-competitive spheres,
such as autonomous driving, connectivity and electrified
propulsion.
The Company has already committed €9 billion toward a five-year
plan to launch 30 new electrified nameplates worldwide. Among the
first will be plug-in hybrid versions of the Jeep® Compass, Jeep
Renegade and Jeep Wrangler SUVs and a pair of all-electric vehicles
– a Fiat brand car and a commercial van from Fiat
Professional.
Meanwhile, Maserati is racing toward an electrified future on
the heels of a €1.6 billion investment that will accommodate the
integration of hybrid and all-electric propulsion systems, and
Level 3 autonomous driving technology – all infused with the
brand's distinctive sportiness.
The most significant change in today's announcement is the
integration of FCA's powertrain and vehicle engineering
organizations.
Previously, powertrain engineering was decoupled from the
vehicle product development process. Now, it is embedded in a
unified, global organization that promises improved cross-regional
collaboration and more effective resource deployment. The new,
flatter product development organization will also enable speed in
decision making and best use of technical competencies around the
globe.
"Our engineering resources will be concentrated and integrated,
not diluted," Wester adds.
The organization is expected to be fully operational next
year.
About FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is a global automaker that designs,
engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles in a portfolio of
exciting brands, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge,
Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep®, Lancia, Ram and Maserati.
It also sells parts and services under the Mopar name and operates
in the components and production systems sectors under the Comau
and Teksid brands. FCA employs nearly 200,000 people around
the globe. For more details regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA),
please visit www.fcagroup.com.
For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at
http://media.fcanorthamerica.com.
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SOURCE FCA