Chrysler 2015 Annual Report Download - page 110

110 2015 | ANNUAL REPORT
A Responsible Company
Research and Innovation
The Group’s global research and innovation activities work to develop solutions for sustainable mobility by improving
efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, and introducing product enhancements related to safety and
connected mobility solutions. Continuous innovation is essential to development of products that are environmentally
and socially sustainable.
Innovation activities worldwide are coordinated through a common framework, the FCA Global Innovation Process
(GIP). Developed in collaboration with input from the Group’s four operating regions, the GIP covers all phases of the
innovation process, from idea generation to pre-competitive development.
At year-end 2015, the Group’s research and innovation activities involved approximately 20,000 individuals at 85
locations worldwide. In the EMEA region, the CRF in Orbassano, Italy is the primary R&D facility. In NAFTA, research
and development activities are primarily carried out at the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills (U.S.), and the
Automotive Research and Development Centre in Windsor (Canada).
During the year, the Group invested approximately €4.1 billion in R&D4, representing around 3.7 percent of net
revenues from Industrial Activities. The Group’s innovation activities have generated a significant intellectual property
portfolio over the years and, at year-end 2015, FCA had a total of 8,462 registered patent applications and 4,251
protected product designs.
Patents
FCA worldwide
Total patents registered at December 31, 2015 8,462
of which: registered in 2015 704
Patents pending at December 31, 2015 3,316
of which: new patent applications filed in 2015 434
Designs
FCA worldwide
Design rights registered at December 31, 2015 4,251
of which: registered in 2015 664
FCA endeavors to reduce the environmental impact of our vehicles over their entire life cycle, while responding
to consumer demands in each market where we do business. Key elements include optimizing the efficiency of
conventional engines, offering a wide range of alternative fuel vehicles, developing alternative propulsion and emission
reduction systems, reducing vehicle energy demand, promoting driver behavior that contributes to reducing emissions
and introducing new mobility solutions.
FCA’s commitment to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy is reflected in the long-term targets
that we have established. To fulfill these commitments, the Company has adopted a selective approach that applies
the most suitable technologies based on market and regulatory requirements, as well as customer expectations with
respect to level of technology and cost.
In January 2016, the Group updated our 2014-2018 Business Plan to better reflect these demands. The updated
plan addresses the unique regulatory requirements of each region, and includes actions to improve vehicle efficiency,
including further applications of battery/electric technologies, such as the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid which was
introduced at the beginning of 2016.
4 Includes capitalized R&D and R&D charged directly to the income statement (Ferrari included in the scope).