FCA 2016 Dealership's annual meeting...

[Eagle6.7L]

Last week at the 2016 FCA National dealership's annual conference a sore subject was brought to the front at the podium by the newly elected council president,and it goes something like this.So many owners of FCA dealership's feel the huge amount or spike in service complaint's that MOPAR is receiving on it's "Hotline" MOPAR feel's is due to the lack of expansion with in the dealerships service dept's across the nation.This was according to MOPAR head Pietro Gorlier,but dealerships fired back stating that this is just a "bubble" and we will get through this,and this was referring to the huge backlog of warranty,and recall work.This was cause for dealership's to add on more tech's,service writers,and second,third shifts in existing service bays. Also ready for this fight dealership's pointed out that across the nation last year 1600 service bays have been put into the system,and up to 600 service writers,and a whopping 2700 tech's,in all classification's.I was wondering how many side with dealerships and how many side with MOPAR president.Also quality intial survey reports will be reported this week as well.These will be on people who had a experience with either sales,or service.And how was the quality,repeat write ups,and over all experience at your dealerships will be reported.

 

[Newsa]

Last week at the 2016 FCA National dealership's annual conference a sore subject was brought to the front at the podium by the newly elected council president,and it goes something like this.So many owners of FCA dealership's feel the huge amount or spike in service complaint's that MOPAR is receiving on it's "Hotline" MOPAR feel's is due to the lack of expansion with in the dealerships service dept's across the nation.This was according to MOPAR head Pietro Gorlier,but dealerships fired back stating that this is just a "bubble" and we will get through this,and this was referring to the huge backlog of warranty,and recall work.This was cause for dealership's to add on more tech's,service writers,and second,third shifts in existing service bays. Also ready for this fight dealership's pointed out that across the nation last year 1600 service bays have been put into the system,and up to 600 service writers,and a whopping 2700 tech's,in all classification's.I was wondering how many side with dealerships and how many side with MOPAR president.Also quality intial survey reports will be reported this week as well.These will be on people who had a experience with either sales,or service.And how was the quality,repeat write ups,and over all experience at your dealerships will be reported.

Some of these dealerships don't treat their techs right. A dealership in North Miami Beach had a tech quit & walk out the door.
Most of the service writers and the techs behind them are great.

Except once when the service writer told me I didn't know what I was talking about when I showed him a hard copy of a TSB to get my chassis fuel heater turned on.

 

[Wayne M.]

They never know anything except what's on the screen pertaining to your vin.

 

[Newsa]

They never know anything except what's on the screen pertaining to your vin.

I had to tell them to follow the 9 steps on the TSB. And read it to them and insist they follow directions. Given the directions it shouldn't be too hard. They just wanted to get me out of there.

 

[zb39]

I have zero issues with my dealer. Last week I stopped in to look at my new truck and make an appointment for my wives jeep. They had me bring it in in 2 days and it was fixed that day. And when I picked it up the guy taking my money knew me so he took $60 off the bill. $60 was 20% of the bill. I asked the fleet salesman about it and he said no big deal. They do it for commercial customers all the time. I can't speak for any other dealer but I like mine.

 

[jhenderson]

Some of these dealerships don't treat their techs right. A dealership in North Miami Beach had a tech quit & walk out the door.
Most of the service writers and the techs behind them are great.

Except once when the service writer told me I didn't know what I was talking about when I showed him a hard copy of a TSB to get my chassis fuel heater turned on.

Techs walk out the door every day. They change jobs like you change socks. The work environment can be stressful. A good tech can be abused by loading them with all the problem children without extra compensation and little or no relief. I spent my early years working at the top front end and frame shop in RI. You'll notice I'm no longer in the wrench business. There's more than one reason for that but I do have experience in the field. A promise of better working conditions, or a full schedule ( remember the techs work flat rate) and they head out. It's rare for a tech to spend his or her career at only 1 or 2 dealers.

 

[mwilson]

It's called "Growing Pains." Every percent of market share gained stresses both corporate and dealers. We are going through this now with Daimler.

More parts needed for both production and aftermarket, more bays and technicians to work on more vehicles, more training for the technicians, etc.....it's like trying to turn a battleship in a hurry.........

On top of that, every change in Internet Explorer stresses the IT departments to no end on both sides.....

 

[Wayne M.]

I wonder if there was any talk about FCAs long term plans? I would think they should be nervous.

 

[EGroeneveld]

My local dealer for sure needs to update and enlarge his dealership and service department. Nothing's changed for 11 years except longer wait times. Can tell they just don't have enough diesel techs and bays.

My wife has a much better experience at the Toyota Service Department then i do.

In the last couple years, GMC, Cadillac, Chevy, Toyota, VW, BMW, Honda, Mazda and a couple more have all moved into much larger state of the art buildings....the local Dodge/Ram needs to do the same. badly!

Ram on!

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Wayne M,interesting at today's 2016 FCA annual dealership's meeting it was announced that Bob "Old school Dodge Ram" Hegbloom was moved to a newly created position called RAM International,and Jim Morrison from JEEP has taken control of RAM Truck.Also sales were reported and this was again FCA best February,with a YTD sales figure of 339169 interesting was FORD at 388,523 This is only a difference of 49,354 units,FCA could take North America number 2 sales position from Ford.

 

[Wayne M.]

I posted about F v. R sales recently. Ram international- I guess that's the transplants. But what I meant was the rumored shaky future of FCA I also posted about.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/254497-And-now-this

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/254337-Ram-passes-Ford-in-sales

 

[sag2]

Unless things have changed dramatically in the year since I retired that 2,700 new technicians is a lie. FCA has been telling dealers for the last 5 or so years that they needed to add technicians because if they waited until the industry recovered it would be too late. The dealers drug their feet all the way and the technician count was fairly stable over that time. Based on the talent that is out there I do not see any way dealers could have added 2,700 technicians.

 

[Wayne M.]

Unless things have changed dramatically in the year since I retired that 2,700 new technicians is a lie. FCA has been telling dealers for the last 5 or so years that they needed to add technicians because if they waited until the industry recovered it would be too late. The dealers drug their feet all the way and the technician count was fairly stable over that time. Based on the talent that is out there I do not see any way dealers could have added 2,700 technicians.

I'll buy that because I don't see the recruiting like other mfr's. Was recently looking at a college course page, and there were a few mfr's participating in a certification/ recruiting course, and IIRC, FCA wasn't there.

Regarding personal dealer experience, the '04 was only to a dealer once in its life for the soooo long ago leaky CP3 campaign, and I was able to find a good Cummins cert dealer and that went very well.
My '14 Durango? The selling dealer fought me on some issues I had, like a rear strut noise that they refused to address, but the dealer I use now seems more concerned about the customer. This place was also rebuilt from a fire, so it's modern and looks to be done right.

Just for comparison, a coworkers son, a honorable discharge US Marine, was taken up into a veterans program at Audi, where they are grooming him with an A man. I am very impressed with what he's getting so far.

 

[JR]

Eagle 6.7L, I would be super interested in any insight you can offer in FCA's future production plans. I.E. small passenger vehicle production, new tech (hybrid, electrification, etc.) It seems as though FCA is interested in building only things with a Jeep or RAM emblem on it. Looking at virtually every other manufscturer out there everybody is looking down the road 10 or even 20 years while FCA seems content riding on old technology. Doesn't seem like a good buisiness plan in the long term.

 

[Wayne M.]

Eagle 6.7L, I would be super interested in any insight you can offer in FCA's future production plans. I.E. small passenger vehicle production, new tech (hybrid, electrification, etc.) It seems as though FCA is interested in building only things with a Jeep or RAM emblem on it. Looking at virtually every other manufscturer out there everybody is looking down the road 10 or even 20 years while FCA seems content riding on old technology. Doesn't seem like a good buisiness plan in the long term.

JR, this sounds eerily like DCX's plan when they took over, and why the Neon was killed.

 

[gsbrockman]

Eagle 6.7L, I would be super interested in any insight you can offer in FCA's future production plans. I.E. small passenger vehicle production, new tech (hybrid, electrification, etc.) It seems as though FCA is interested in building only things with a Jeep or RAM emblem on it. Looking at virtually every other manufscturer out there everybody is looking down the road 10 or even 20 years while FCA seems content riding on old technology. Doesn't seem like a good buisiness plan in the long term.

Oddly enough....I just read that FCA is axing the Dodge Dart and the Chrysler 200 (the 2nd GEN Chrysler 200 is new from 2015) in favor of----you guessed it...Jeep SUV's and RAM pickups. I own my signature truck and a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited......but axing these two cars just seems insane. What will FCA's reaction be if/when gasoline hits $4.00/gal again???

http://www.freep.com/story/money/ca...eeps-rams-under-new-production-plan/79393200/

 

[JR]

Oddly enough....I just read that FCA is axing the Dodge Dart and the Chrysler 200 (the 2nd GEN Chrysler 200 is new from 2015) in favor of----you guessed it...Jeep SUV's and RAM pickups. I own my signature truck and a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited......but axing these two cars just seems insane. What will FCA's reaction be if/when gasoline hits $4.00/gal again???

Exactly. 2025 CAFE standards of 54.5 mpg are just around the corner.

Scary times ahead for FCA.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

JR good questions as many autowriter's ask this as well at press conference's with FCA.Fuel mandates,and future plans are a interesting subject at FCA HQ's each day.They had just recently purchased from another automaker EPA Fuel credits to use,for the future.This to me means they will not be meeting Federal fuel mandates in the near future.I do not have a clue as to Sergio direction,he seems lost,and well some of the design' well just to me miss the mark.The Rebel,The Limited,the 200,the dated Challenger etc,etc...They tend to think that slapping superchargers on V8 is the way to go.I guess for the next 1-2 years this will get them profit,but profit and paying down debt are one thing he seems not to be able to do real quickly,at least to satisfy a merger with someone else,God forbid.After seeing some of GM's future truck design stuff, well FCA better get it's act together real soon,because it and Ford will be putting the bit to them.FCA had not better rely on loyality to much.Or they will find themselves discounting themselves back into BK.I had just wished to be honest that the UAW and Chrysler had been able to work it out.But the appointed auto czar first appointed by President Bush and then endorsed by President Obama seen to push for the allience..

 

[Wayne M.]

Eagle, you got the goods.

 

[JR]

I read about the credits you speak of the other day. A Short term solution at best. I truly hope Sergio has a better plan than that and is merely holding his hand close.

Thank you for the insight Eagle, always appreciated.