FCA trials Jeep subscription services

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is to trial two forms of car-sharing services for owners of Jeeps. The first, with start-up Turo, will focus on peer-to-peer sharing, and a second subscription service with Avis will let owners swap their Jeeps for other vehicles. Both three-month pilots start in Boston and will be limited to the first 100 owners to sign up. Under the partnership with Avis Budget Group, owners will be able to swap their Jeep for other vehicles, such as a Ram pickup or Dodge Challenger.

FCA trials Jeep subscription services

Jan 21, 2019

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is to trial two forms of car-sharing services for owners of Jeeps. The first, with start-up Turo, will focus on peer-to-peer sharing, and a second subscription service with Avis will let owners swap their Jeeps for other vehicles. Both three-month pilots start in Boston and will be limited to the first 100 owners to sign up. Under the partnership with Avis Budget Group, owners will be able to swap their Jeep for other vehicles, such as a Ram pickup or Dodge Challenger.

Alphera launches incentive scheme to promote FCA-compliant finance sales

Alphera Financial Services has launched an incentive scheme for its UK dealer and broker partners that focuses on satisfaction levels, rather than sales volumes, to encourage best practice in the industry. BMW Group’s independent motor finance division will run the scheme from January to the end of September 2019. Finance sales specialists working for Alphera’s UK partners will ask their customers to complete a survey after taking out a finance agreement with Alphera, gauging their satisfaction in the finance sales process.

Alphera launches incentive scheme to promote FCA-compliant finance sales

Jan 18, 2019

Alphera Financial Services has launched an incentive scheme for its UK dealer and broker partners that focuses on satisfaction levels, rather than sales volumes, to encourage best practice in the industry. BMW Group’s independent motor finance division will run the scheme from January to the end of September 2019. Finance sales specialists working for Alphera’s UK partners will ask their customers to complete a survey after taking out a finance agreement with Alphera, gauging their satisfaction in the finance sales process.

Finance arms to remain separate as Volkswagen and Ford launch global vehicle alliance

Ford and Volkswagen have announced a broad vehicle alliance to develop commercial vehicles and pickups for global markets. The alliance is designed to provide scale and efficiencies through shared vehicle platforms, starting in 2022. The collaboration could extend to electric and autonomous vehicles and also mobility services, reflecting BMW and Daimler’s merger of their mobility divisions last year.

Finance arms to remain separate as Volkswagen and Ford launch global vehicle alliance

Jan 16, 2019

Ford and Volkswagen have announced a broad vehicle alliance to develop commercial vehicles and pickups for global markets. The alliance is designed to provide scale and efficiencies through shared vehicle platforms, starting in 2022. The collaboration could extend to electric and autonomous vehicles and also mobility services, reflecting BMW and Daimler’s merger of their mobility divisions last year.

Americas

$1.5m fine for Santander Consumer USA over accounting failures

Jan 14, 2019

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that Santander Consumer USA Holdings has agreed to settle charges stemming from its accounting for troubled sub-prime loans, in a deal which will see the lender pay a civil penalty of $1.5 million. According to the SEC’s order, Santander Consumer failed to calculate and report its credit loss allowance for certain impaired loans in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for at least eight reporting periods. Santander Consumer failed to segregate the impaired loans when calculating its credit loss allowance, and improperly grouped the loans with the rest of its loan assets when evaluating them for impairment.

Asia Pacific

China’s growing cities fuel auto finance expansion

Jan 07, 2019

As China’s megacities continue to swell in size, there is booming demand for vehicles within a growing middle class that needs access to transportation. China already leads global vehicle demand, ahead of the US and EU, according to the latest data from ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. However, according to J.D. Power’s 2018 China Consumer Auto Financing Sales Satisfaction Study, car finance is still an underdeveloped, but emerging, business in China.