Chrysler 2005 Annual Report Download - page 67

66 Reporton Operations Iveco
01 Report on Operations
even though the relevant EU regulations, which are in effect until
2015, require only 85% recyclability.
In 2005, Iveco continued to renovate its vehicle line.
The familyof light vehicles was expanded by the addition of a new
136-HP version of the 2.3-liter Iveco Unijet engine and the
automated Agile gearbox, which is available with a 136-HP or a 166-
HP 3.0-liter engine.The Daily was honoured for the second time in a
few months with the title of “Van of the Year 2005.” Coming on the
heels of the “Fleet Van of the Year 2005” listing by the magazine
Motor Transport, this prestigious honour was bestowed on the Daily
byWhat Van?, the most widely read industry magazine in Great
Britain. Anew version of this vehicle, the Daily Euro 4, is scheduled
for launch in 2006.
At the RAI Expo in Amsterdam, Iveco presented a version of the
Eurocargo that already meets the Euro 5 emissions ceilings, achieving
compliance in advance of the statutorydeadline and before all
competitors.
The Sector also introduced the ES, a new version of the Stralis,
its pride and joy in the heavy road vehicle segment.The main
innovations offered in this version are two safety devices: the ESP
(an electronic stability control system that can take action to correct
a vehicle’spath) and Lane Departure Warning System (a device that
signals when a vehicle is crossing over a lane dividing line).
At the Samoter, the International Earthmoving and Building Machinery
and Equipment Expo in Verona, the judges of the Technical Innovation
Contest awarded the Innovation Prize to the Astra RD32 rigid dumper,
naming it a completely innovative product for the adoption and
integration of cutting-edge technological solutions and best production
practices in specific aspects of the production of numerous
components used in the vehicle.
Irisbus also broadened its product line, focusing on low-emission
vehicles, with special emphasis on urban transportation vehicles fuelled
with natural gas.The new Irisbus Arway was unveiled in Turin in 2005.
This bus, which was created for long-distance service, is equipped with
aCursor 8 engine that complies with the environmental requirements
of the Euro 4 standard. In the area of luxury touring buses, Irisbus
presented the New Domino, a bus that accommodates up to 55
passengers in the utmost comfort and is equipped with a 430-HP
Cursor engine that is already Euro 4 compliant.
Services
The Iveco Customer Centre continued to improve its performance
in 2005, cutting the response time to customer calls by more than
30%. In addition, the Customer Centre used the existing platform
to establish an ongoing dialogue with customers, which significantly
improved Iveco’s direct marketing capabilities.
During 2005, the Iveco replacement parts distribution system
achieved an excellent level of service, setting records in terms
of parts availability while at the same time optimising warehouse
inventories.
The integration of the systems that distribute bus and commercial
vehicle replacement parts was extended to include the French bus
products.These products are now distributed from a single logistics
hub in Paris, which has taken over the operations of the Lyon
warehouse.
In anticipation of the need to tackle the increasinglycomplex repair
situations that result from the steadily growing use of onboard
vehicle electronics, the Sector’s technical support organisation
worked on two key areas in 2005: a) developing powerful but
simple-to-use diagnostic tools and b) boosting the skill level of
mechanics in the aftersale network.
In the first half of 2005, as part of its effort to deliver increasingly
innovativeand competitivefinancial solutions, Iveco and Barclays
Mercantile Business Finance Ltd. entered into an agreement that
established Iveco Finance Holdings Limited. Iveco conveyed some
of its finance companies in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom to this new company, which will provide
financing and leasing solutions for commercial vehicles. On June 1,
2005, Iveco sold 51% of Iveco Finance Holdings Limited to Barclays
Mercantile Business Finance Ltd. Iveco Finance Holdings Limited
was deconsolidated as of the same date and is accounted for
from that date using the equity method.
In 2005, Iveco Finance provided funding for 23.4% of all of the
vehicles sold by the Sector.
The pool of long-term rental vehicles managed by the Transolver
Services companies numbered 3,116 units at the end of 2005.