The IT Nerd

FCA Canada has announced that they now provide a multi-faceted, online retailing solution that makes it easier for consumers to begin a vehicle purchase digitally.

The new digital retailing solution was developed collaboratively between FCA Canada and Dealertrack Canada and includes innovative dealer website enhancements that deliver a more efficient, secure and transparent on-line process for vehicle purchases. This marks the first time that Dealertrack Canada has partnered with an OEM since revealing its digital retailing technology to the Canadian market earlier in January. The enhanced websites will be offered by participating dealers.

Initially, the enhancements will include the ability to pre-qualify and apply for financing on both new and used vehicles, plus an enhanced payment estimator for an actual vehicle in-inventory. FCA is working to offer additional features such as a trade-in estimator, as well as the ability to reserve a vehicle with a deposit and purchase service packages.

This will significantly reduce the time involved with the purchase of a vehicle and will actually initiate a formal purchase agreement. Customers will still need to complete the final purchase transaction at a local dealership.

A lawsuit has been filed by the US Department of Justice that accuses Fiat-Chrysler of the same kind of software trickery that got Volkswagen into all sorts of trouble:

The complaint alleges that FCA equipped nearly 104,000 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles (Model Years 2014-2016) sold in the United States with at least eight software-based features that were not disclosed in FCA’s applications for certificates of conformity and that affect the vehicles’ emission control systems.  The undisclosed software features lessen the effectiveness of the vehicles’ emissions control systems during certain normal driving situations.  This results in cars that meet emission standards in the laboratory and during standard EPA testing, but during certain normal on-road driving emit oxides of nitrogen (NOx) that are much higher than the EPA-compliant level.  The complaint alleges that each of these vehicles differs materially from the specifications provided to EPA in the certification applications, and thus the cars are uncertified, in violation of the Clean Air Act.  These allegations are consistent with those set forth in notice of violation (“NOV”) that EPA issued to FCA US LLC and FCA NV on Jan. 12, 2017. 

Oh boy. That’s not good. FCA has posted a response to this that I will sum up by quoting this:

FCA US is currently reviewing the complaint, but is disappointed that the DOJ-ENRD has chosen to file this lawsuit. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously, particularly against any claims that the Company engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat U.S. emissions tests.

But they also have this to say:

As FCA US announced last week, it has developed updated emissions software calibrations that it believes address the concerns of EPA and CARB, and has now formally filed for diesel vehicle emissions certification with the regulators for its 2017 model year (MY) Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles. Subject to the permission of EPA and CARB, FCA US intends to install the same modified emissions software in 2014-2016 MY Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles. FCA US believes this will address the agencies’ concerns regarding the emissions software calibrations in those vehicles.

FCA expects that the installation of these updated software calibrations will improve the 2014-2016 MY vehicles’ emissions performance and does not anticipate any impact on performance or fuel efficiency.

The filing that they’re referring to can be found here. I am guessing that FCA was hoping that this would make the potential of a lawsuit such as this one go away. But it clearly didn’t. And here we are. I’ll be keeping an eye on this to see how this turns out.

If you own a Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler or, RAM vehicle, I have some very good news for you. FCA Uconnect is releasing a new complimentary software update designed to add Apple Siri Eyes Free capability to the vehicle’s Uconnect system for nearly two million properly equipped Uconnect vehicles dating back to the 2013 model year.

Drivers can activate Siri Eyes Free from the voice button on the steering wheel and speak natural language voice commands to send text messages, play music, set reminders, place phone calls and access turn-by-turn directions. Drivers will simply push and hold the voice recognition button on the steering wheel until the Siri screen appears on the 8.4-inch touch screen and the user hears the audible tones. Siri Eyes Free is compatible with an Apple iPhone 4s or later.

Here’s a demo of the system in action:

The new software update is available for the following vehicles equipped with a Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen system:

• 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500
• 2013-2015 Dodge Viper
• 2014-2015 Dodge Durango
• 2015 Dodge Challenger and Charger
• 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee
• 2015 Jeep Renegade
• 2015 Chrysler 200 and 300

To download and install the Siri Eyes Free software update, vehicle owners can visit https://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/  to receive the software and watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71o-qxc9r-g for step-by-step instructions on how to perform the update themselves or customers can schedule a service appointment to have the software update installed at their preferred dealership. Additional charges for a service appointment may apply.

I applaud FCA for providing a software update like this to their existing owners as it shows that they want to make make sure as many of their owners as possible have infotainment systems capable of leveraging new technology. FCA joins Ford in my good books for doing this and other car companies should copy FCA as this would show consumers that they have a customer first focus.