Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015

Hot Defensive Stocks For 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 luxury 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 under the Tek! sid 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 components, transmiss! ion 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]

  Chrysler via AP DETROIT -- Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) is recalling more than 566,000 trucks and SUVs in two recalls for malfunctioning fuel heaters that can cause fires and a software glitch can disable the electronic stability control. The recalls bring the newly merged company's total for the year to 6.4 million vehicles worldwide and 5.1 million in the U.S. as it continues to struggle with reliability problems. It wasn't immediately clear whether those totals were annual records. On Tuesday, its longtime quality chief abruptly left after Fiat Chrysler performed poorly in Consumer Reports magazine's annual reliability rankings. The largest of two recalls announced Wednesday covers almost 382,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs from 2010 through 2014. In trucks ! with 6.7-! Liter Cummins diesel engines, corrosion on a fuel heater terminal could cause overheating, fuel leaks and fires. Chrysler isn't aware of any fires or injuries. Owners could be warned by an odor of diesel fuel. Customers will be notified by letters starting in December. Dealers will install upgraded terminals and fuel heater housings could be replaced. The second recall covers more than 184,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from 2014. A debris cover over a circuit board in the steering column control module can disrupt communications and disable the stability control. The problem was discovered when dealers started getting reports from customers that electronic stability control warning lights were coming on. Fiat Chrysler says it knows of no crashes or injuries caused by the problem. Technicians will upgrade software to fix the SUVs, and customers will be notified in December. Fiat Chrysler has issued 33 global recalls and 27 in the U.S. so far this year. Doug Betts, its longtime quality chief, left the company to pursue other options after Consumer Reports' survey-based rankings this year showed four Fiat Chrysler brands at the bottom of its list.

• [By Alexander MacLennan]

  In a move that helped push Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE: FCAU  ) higher, the automaker group will spin off Ferrari sometime next year. But before that happens, Ferrari is due to pay Fiat Chrysler 2.25 billion euros, according to recent reports.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-defensive-stocks-for-2015-3.html