USA - Four FCA US LLC vehicles led their respective segments in total quality.

• Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited named best-in-class Entry SUV for third year in a row
• Fiat 500 leads Micro Car segment in total quality for second consecutive year
• Dodge Challenger captures back-to-back wins for total quality in Specialty Coupe segment
• Jeep Grand Cherokee takes home first place in total quality among Mid-Size SUVs
• FIAT ties for title of industry’s best brand for total quality under $26,000

Four FCA US LLC vehicles led their respective segments in total quality and the FIAT brand tied for first among automakers for the best brand with vehicles under $26,000 in Strategic Vision’s 22^nd annual Total Quality Impact™ (TQI).

Four 2016 FCA US vehicles won their respective segments for total quality:

• Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited – Entry SUV
• Fiat 500 – Micro Car
• Dodge Challenger – Specialty Coupe
• Jeep Grand Cherokee – Mid-Size SUV

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited won its segment for the third consecutive year while the Fiat 500 and Dodge Challenger both led their segments for the second year in a row.

 

TQI is based on responses from more than 39,000 owners of new 2016 model year vehicles. The quality study includes more than 155 specific aspects of the customer experience to form a unique and complete measure of the total ownership experience.

 

“We see time and again that for consumers, innovation does more to communicate quality than an absence of problems does,” said Christopher Chaney, Senior Vice President – Strategic Vision. “Whether it comes in the form of breakthrough technology, re-engineering a vehicle or creating a new model, consumers feel the positive impact of bold new directions taken by manufacturers.”

 

According to San Diego-based research firm Strategic Vision, the TQI score is a holistic measure that encompasses positive and negative product experiences. This includes reliability, actual problems, driving excitement and other measures that collectively are energized by the emotional response associated with the aggregate of all those experiences – hence Total Quality.

 

“The future of quality that is meaningful to buyers will reach beyond 'no squeaks and rattles' and reside in the successful deployment of engineering innovation and technology that is relevant, intuitive and impactful,” Chaney said.

Peugeot to support BBC Children in Need, Rickshaw Challenge.+

• Rickshaw Challenge returns for BBC Children in Need  #TEAMRICKSHAW
• PEUGEOT provides six support vehicles for the duration of the challenge

The One Show has announced the return of the Rickshaw Challenge. Now in its fourth year and having raised over £5 million for the charity, the team is hoping to smash its record with its best year of fundraising yet. 

Beginning today at the BBC’s Media City near Manchester, the rickshaw will undertake a ‘Salford to Walford’ journey across England, finishing live at the iconic EastEnders set during the BBC Children in Need Appeal on Friday 14 November.

Rickshaw veteran Matt Baker and co-host Alex Jones are acting as mentors and together with five young people make up ‘Team Rickshaw’.  The youngsters are all from projects funded by BBC Children in Need. Having benefited from the charity’s work first hand, the young riders are undertaking the challenge to raise as much money as possible to help other young people across the country.

As part of its on-going partnership as the only automotive partner to the charity throughout 2014, PEUGEOT has donated six vehicles – 1 x 508 SW, 2 x 308 SW, 1 x 5008 compact MPV, 1 x Expert Van and one PEUGEOT Boxer Motor Home – to the One Show for use during the challenge.

The convoy  will follow ‘Team Rickshaw’ across the country – as it travels from Manchester to London – providing filming support vehicles and an on-the-road living space for the team throughout the 450-mile journey.

Speaking about the challenge, PEUGEOT UK Director of Communications,  Andrew Didlick, said: “The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge has raised in excess of £5million for the charity to date and as an official partner of Children in Need, we knew once again it was an event we absolutely had to support.

“Living on the road for eight days is no mean feat and although the team is made up of very capable and no doubt brave young people, it’s essential that ‘Team Rickshaw’ has a reliable and robust convoy of vehicles able to provide backup, regardless of the terrain or weather.

“As with every fleet enquiry we deal with, we assessed the demands of the journey, in this case placing great emphasis on safety and the ability to cope with difficult weather conditions. These vehicles have been chosen due to their load bearing capacity, performance, responsive nature and versatility, making them the perfect fleet for such an ambitious challenge.”

Supporting ‘Team Rickshaw’ is just one of many activities PEUGEOT and its Dealer Network are involved in throughout 2014. PEUGEOT and Pudsey are uniting once again as ‘The Dynamic Duo’. 

The campaign reflects the idea that we are more effective when we come together than as individuals, so this year we’re turning talents and hobbies into ‘Super Powers’. So whether it’s Sky Diving, an Open Water Swim or Washing Cars; the Dealer Network will use whatever talents it possesses to raise as much money as it possibly can for Children in Need. 

The aim for this year’s fundraising is simple: by raising £250,000 or more, PEUGEOT will break through the £1million barrier.

Visit www.dynamicduo.peugeot.co.uk for more details.