Best Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2015

Best Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2015: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCAU)

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV is an international automotive company. The Company is engaged in designing, engineering, manufacturing, distributing and selling vehicles and components and production systems. The Company operates in approximately 40 countries and its products are sold directly or through distributors and dealers in more than 150 countries. It designs, engineers, manufactures, distributes and sells vehicles for the mass market under the Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia and Ram brands and the SRT performance vehicle designation. It operates in six segments: four regional mass-market vehicle segments, which include United States, Canada and Mexico (NAFTA), South and Central America, excluding Mexico (LATAM), Asia and Pacific countries (APAC) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), a global Luxury Brands segment, and a global Components segment.

The Company support its vehicle sales with after-sales servi ces and products worldwide under the Mopar brand and, in certain markets, with retail and dealer financing, leasing and rental services, which it makes available through its subsidiaries, joint ventures and commercial arrangements. The Company designs, engineers, manufactures, distribute and sell luxury vehicles under the Ferrari and Maserati brands, which it support with financial services provided to dealers and retail customers. It also operates in the components and production systems sectors through the Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Comau brands.

The Companys four regional mass-market vehicle reportable segments deal with the design, engineering, development, manufacturing, distribution and sale of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and related parts and services in specific geographic areas: NAFTA, LATAM, APAC and EMEA. It also operates on a global basis in the luxury vehicle and components sectors. In the luxur! y vehicle sector, it has the operati ng segments Ferrari and Maserati, while in the components sector the Company has the operating segments Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Comau. The Company supports its mass-market vehicle sales with the sale of related service parts and accessories, as well as service contracts under the Mopar brand name.

The Companys NAFTA operations supports distribution and sales of mass-market vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico, primarily through the Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram brands Its LATAM operations support the distribution and sale of mass-market vehicles in South and Central America (excluding Mexico), primarily under the Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram brands, with the focus of its business in the LATAM segment in Brazil and Argentina. Its APAC operations supports the distribution and sale of mass-market vehicles in the Asia Pacific region (mostly in China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and India), primarily under the Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Ch rysler, Dodge, Fiat and Jeep brands. Its EMEA operations support the distribution and sale of mass-market vehicles in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, primarily under the Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep and Lancia brand names. Its Luxury Brands designs, engineerings, develops, manufacturing, worldwide distribution and sale of luxury vehicles under the Ferrari and Maserati brands, management of the Ferrari racing team and supply of financial services offered in conjunction with the sale of Ferrari-branded vehicles. Its Components is engaged in production and sale of lighting components, engine control units, suspensions, shock absorbers, electronic systems, and exhaust systems and activities in powertrain (engine and transmissions) components, engine control units, plastic molding components and in the after-market carried out under the Magneti Marelli brand name; cast iron components for engines, gearboxes, transmissions and suspension syste ms, and aluminum cylinder! heads un! der the Teksid brand name; and design and production of industrial automation systems and related products for the automotive industry under the Comau brand name.

The Company designs, engineers, manufactures, distributes and sells vehicles and service parts under 11 mass-market brands and designations. As of December 31, 2013, it has 50 parts distribution centers throughout the world to support its customer care efforts in each of its regions. The Companys Mopar brand accessories allow its customers to customize their vehicles by including after-market sales of products from side steps and lift-kits, to graphics packages, such as racing stripes, and custom leather interiors. The Company sells mass-market vehicles in all segments of the passenger car and truck markets. Its passenger car product portfolio includes vehicles such as the iconic Fiat 500 (which has sold more than 1 million units globally since its launch in 2007), Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 200 and Lancia Ypsilon. Its light commercial vehicles include vans such as the Fiat Professional Doblo, Fiat Professional Ducato and Ram ProMaster, and light and heavy-duty pick-up trucks such as the Ram 1500 and 2500/3500. The Company also sells SUVs and CUVs in a number of vehicle segments, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, including expanding into the small SUV segment market with the recently-unveiled Jeep Renegade.

The Company sells components and production systems under Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Comau brands. Magneti Marelli is engaged in designs and productions of automotive systems and components. Through Magneti Marelli, it designs and manufactures automotive lighting systems, powertrain (engines and transmissions) components and engine control unit, electronic systems, suspension systems and exhaust systems, and plastic components and modules. The Teksid brand is engaged in the production of grey and nodu lar iron castings. Under the Teksid brand it produces engine blocks, cylinder heads, engine c! omponents! , transmission parts, gearboxes and suspensions. Through Teksid Aluminum, it is also involved in the production of aluminum cylinder heads and engine components.

Comau produces advanced manufacturing systems through an international network. Comau operates primarily in the field of integrated automation technology, delivering advanced turnkey systems to its customers. Through Comau, it develops and sells a range of industrial applications, including robotics, while it provides support service, including training to customers. Comaus principal activities include powertrain machining (from raw material to final components); mechanical assembly systems and performance testing; body welding and assembly systems, and robotics (producing versatile naked or in line robots, aimed at improving efficiency of manufacturing and quality of products manufactured). Comau s automation technology is used in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, petrochemical, military, shipbuilding and energy efficiency consultancy. Comau also provides maintenance service for the Company and other customers in Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Charles Krupa/AP DETROIT -- Chrysler and General Motors each posted U.S. sales gains last month, strong signs that Black Friday promotions and falling gas prices drove U.S. auto sales higher in November. Chrysler (FCAU) sales were up 20 percent to nearly 171,000 vehicles, helping the company to its best November in 13 years, while GM sales rose 6 percent to nearly 226,000. Chrysler was led by the 200 midsize sedan with sales that more than doubled to over 14,000. It sold nearly 36,000 Ram pickups, an increase of 21 percent for its top-selling vehicle. Jeep Cherokee small SUV sales rose 67 percent to nearly 17,000. At GM (GM), the Chevrolet Silverado pickup was the top seller with sales up nearly 25 percent to almost 43,000. GMC Sierra pickup sales rose 57 percent to nearly 23,000, and Chevy Cruze compact ca! r sales w! ere up 26 percent to nearly 23,000. The TrueCar.com auto pricing site predicts that total U.S. sales last month will reach 1.3 million, up around 4 percent from a year ago and the fastest pace since August. The hot sales are being fueled by zero-percent financing and rebates. But the sales are still profitable for automakers due to high transaction prices. Analysts predict that Black Friday promotions started early and helped the month close strong, and falling gas prices boosted sales of SUVs. TrueCar President John Krafcik said deals -- such as zero-percent financing on new Chevrolets or a $3,500 credit on a new BMW -- drew buyers, along with hot-selling new vehicles like the Cherokee and Toyota Camry. Despite the deals, it was a profitable month for the industry, with consumers poised to set new spending records. As of mid-November, buyers were spending an average of $30,874 per vehicle, or $165 more than the previous record of $30,709 in October, according to consulting firms J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. That was partly because buyers were loading up their vehicles with extras like adaptive cruise control and navigation, and also be

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Shizuo Kambayashi/APChild seats, manufactured by Takata, displayed at a Toyota showroom in Tokyo. DETROIT -- Takata Corp. defied a U.S. safety agency's demand for a nationwide recall of driver's side air bags, setting the stage for possible legal action by the government and leaving some drivers to wonder about the safety of their cars. In a Tuesday letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration obtained by The Associated Press, Takata said its own data and testing support limiting the recall to high-humidity areas, such as along the Gulf Coast. A Takata official repeated those claims Wednesday morning at a hearing before a House subcommittee. The air bag's inflators can explode with too much force, spewing shrapnel into the passenger compartment. At least five deaths and dozens of injuries have ! been link! ed to the problem worldwide. Under pressure from lawmakers, the U.S. safety agency on Nov. 26 demanded that Takata and a number of automakers broaden a recall of driver's side air bags to all 50 states. At Wednesday's hearing before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, an executive from Honda (HMC) said the automaker would expand its recall nationwide. Honda is one of Takata's biggest customers. So far automakers have recalled about 14 million vehicles worldwide for Takata air bag problems, including 8 million in the U.S. A nationwide recall would add 8 million vehicles to existing recalls, Takata said. Up until now, cars were only being recalled in high-humidity areas in Florida, Hawaii, along the Gulf Coast and in some U.S. territories. Takata has maintained that prolonged exposure to airborne moisture can cause the inflator propellant to burn faster than designed, causing it to explode with too much force. A number of committee members expressed concern that the limited nature of the recall was confusing to consumers outside of the current recall zones. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, the panel's senior Democrat, said she's rec

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/best-consumer-service-companies-to-invest-in-2015-2.html