FCA 3rd Quarter Results

[Anthony]

Highlights (from Allpar post):

 

• Net profit rose 50% to $1.1 billion.
• Full year guidance is confirmed, including having net debt reduced to less than €2.5B.
• Autonomous driving technology partnership: On August 16th announced signing of memorandum of understanding to join BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye in developing a world leading, state of the art autonomous driving platform.
• Next Gen Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500 launches on schedule, no lost production during changeover.

 

Also margins are at 6.7%

 

 

Here is the presentation: https://www.fcagroup.com/en-US/investors/events/quarterly_results_presentations/FCA_2017_Third_Quarter_Results_Presentation.pdf

[Anthony]

NAFTA margins at 8% http://www.autonews.com/article/20171024/OEM/171029877/fca-boosts-q3-profits-on-stronger-north-america-margins

 

 

The carmaker reported an 8 percent adjusted operating profit margin in North America, up from 7.6 percent a year earlier. FCA attributed the increase mainly to a heavier sales mix of more profitable pickups and SUVs, as well as pricing gains.

 

 

 

Some interesting tidbits about future product:

 

On a call with analysts, CEO Sergio Marchionne said:

 

• FCA’s ability to hit its 2018 financial targets will largely depend on the next three months, as it launches production of the redesigned 2018 Wrangler, the redesigned 2019 Ram 1500 pickup and a refreshed Jeep Cherokee, representing more than 1 million units of its most profit-rich vehicles. “The flawless execution of that plan will pretty much deliver 2018,” Marchionne said.

 

• Maserati will get a new crossover by 2020 that will be slotted below the Levante in size and share a platform with Alfa Romeo.

 

• The upcoming Jeep Wrangler-based Scrambler pickup won’t come to market until 2019, after the Toledo South line is retooled.

 

• The Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan and Stelvio crossover will only reach about 80,000 units combined globally in 2017, below its expectations, partly because of issues getting Stelvio stock into FCA’s Alfa Romeo dealer network in the NAFTA region.

 

• FCA’s recently announced partnership with BMW, Intel and Mobileye to develop an autonomous driving system will keep FCA from destroying capital while “chasing its tail” on the important technology. “It’s the safest way for us to enter that market,” Marchionne said.

 

• Production of the Dodge Journey has been “constrained” at FCA’s plant in Toluca, Mexico, as that plant ramps up production of the Jeep Compass. Journey sales are off 48 percent in the U.S. through September.

 

• If the NAFTA trade agreement is ended, FCA has the ability to produce heavy duty Ram pickups in the United States, instead of Mexico.

 

[Anthony]

Still plenty of debt mind you....