US: Mopar partnership to expand Chrysler dealership services

Detroit Free Press - Chrysler’s Mopar parts and service division announced a new partnership today with aftermarket parts producer Magneti Marelli and Shell Lubricants so it can provide broader range of parts and service at Chrysler dealerships.

Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO of Mopar, said the partnerships will help Chrysler dealers increase the parts and service business they provide to customers who own non-Chrysler vehicles through the company’s Express Lane service brand.

In 2010, Chrysler dealers provided oil changes and other parts and service to 2.6 million non-Chrysler vehicles.

“Mopar, Magneti Marelli and Shell Lubricants share the mission of transforming our Chrysler dealerships to provide a full line of services,” Gorlier said. “Today’s announcement markets major mile stone towards this initiative.”

Gorlier said about 600 of Chrysler’s 2,311 dealers have the Express Lane service line. His goal is to increase that percentage.

Gorlier also said the partnership between Magneti Marelli and Mopar also brings Fiat and Chrysler closer together. Corbett-based Magneti Marelli is a subsidiary of Fiat, which owns 30% of Chrysler.

Dino Maggioni, CEO of Magneti Marelli’s aftermarket division, said the company plans to provide Mopar with all 26 of its aftermarket product lines. Already, parts from about eight of those product lines are available in dealerships and parts from other product lines will be available in dealerships later this year.

“By partnering with Mopar, we are really partnering with the final customers who own competitive vehicles who will come to the dealers Express Lanes,” Maggioni said.

Mopar also unveiled today a Mopar '11 Charger, a performance version of the Dodge Charger and a Dodge Avenger rally car.

The Charger is the second Mopar-badged vehicle introduced by Chrysler and Mopar. The first was the Mopar Challenger that was introduced last year. The Mopar '11 Charger, which can be ordered now, sells for $39,750 and will arrive in dealerships by summer, Gorlier said. It comes with a 5.7-liter Hemi engine that produces 370 horsepower and 395 pound feet of torque.

The Dodge Avenger rally car showcases the new partnership between Mopar and Magneti Marelli with parts and accessories from both companies. Dodge plans to show the Avenger rally car to the public for the first time during the New York Auto Show from April 22 to May 1.