Mopar opens operations in SA

"We will strategically grow our parts distribution network in order to support our brands and customers in the marketplace," said Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's and Fiat SpA's service, parts and customer-care brand. "Our new parts distribution center will further improve service to our dealers, distributors and customers in this region. We will continue to look for opportunities to support our growth."

Mopar's new parts distribution center in Pretoria is a 19,000 square-meter facility which will distribute more than 50,000 part numbers to 80 delivery points in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

The Mopar brand

Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand and distributes 280,000 parts and accessories. With the creation of the industrial alliance between Chrysler Group and Fiat SpA, Mopar is extending its global reach, integrating service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance dealer and customer support worldwide.

Mopar's global portfolio includes more than 500,000 parts and accessories that are distributed in more than 130 markets. Mopar is the source for genuine parts and accessories for Chrysler Group brands as well as Fiat brands.

Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorised vehicle specifications for Chrysler Group and Fiat vehicles. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at www.mopar.com.

Mopar features

Mopar has introduced numerous features including:

• Vehicle-information apps: smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with customers;
  
• Electronic owner manuals: traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format. Complete vehicle-information kits offered in Spanish;
  
• Wi-Fi: offers customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot;
  
• Wireless charging: in-vehicle wireless charging for portable devices;
  
• Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters;
  
• wiAdvisor: factory-connected tablet technology in the service lane for instant vehicle diagnosis;
  
• wiTech: vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network;
  
• 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car.

Over 75 years in business

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words motor and parts) was trademarked for antifreeze product in 1937. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s - the muscle-car era. The former Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts.

Mopar carried a line of "special parts" for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use. The brand has expanded to include technical service and customer support.

For more information, go to www.mopar.com.