Global Recognition For Fiat's Sustainability Management

SLOUGH, UNITED KINGDOM – September 10, 2009: Fiat S.p.A. has been recognised as a leader in Sustainability with its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Dow Jones Sustainability STOXX Indexes.

The company received a score of 90/100 compared with an average of 72/100 for all companies in the sector evaluated by SAM, the investment group which specialises in Sustainability Investing.

The DJSI World and DJSI STOXX are the most prestigious stock market indexes measuring performance in the area of corporate responsibility, and only companies which are best-in-class in managing their businesses according to sustainability criteria are admitted. In fact, only companies which are leaders in terms of economic as well as social and environmental performance are included.

Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of Fiat, commented: “This achievement demonstrates that for Fiat, sustainability is a way of doing business which drives our daily decision making. We will continue in our commitment to maintaining high standards and improving performance, thereby contributing to the creation of long-term value for all stakeholders.”

The Group achieved significant results in 2008. In the environmental area, for example, Fiat was recognised as having the lowest average CO2 emissions levels among the top-selling brands in Europe (source: Jato Dynamics), making the brand and Fiat Group Automobiles the most virtuous in its peer group.

In addition, with the launch of the Grande Punto Natural Power, Fiat strengthened its leadership in the area of environmentally-friendly natural gas vehicles – including the contribution of new engines developed by FPT Powertrain Technologies – having the most extensive offer in the market.

New Holland Agriculture further consolidated its position as ‘Clean Energy Leader’, offering a broad range of products which can run on pure biodiesel, and Iveco – in addition to its existing product offer which already meets strict new standards for polluting emissions well ahead of the legal deadline – has also begun testing hybrid diesel-electric vehicles.

Finally, Magneti Marelli was confirmed as a major player in sustainable mobility, receiving one of the most prestigious automotive awards worldwide for its TetraFuel system, which allows cars to run on numerous different fuels, switching from one to another automatically.

New product developments include MultiAir engines – appearing first on the Alfa MiTo and the new Punto Evo – which have an innovative valve management system for the control of airflow and combustion, offering a significant reduction in fuel consumption and polluting emissions, in addition to improved performance.

Selection criteria
The DJSI selection criteria examine a number of indicators in each of the three dimensions (economic, environmental and social) which comprise the concept of Sustainability.

The economic dimension involves an analysis of corporate governance, risk management, code of conduct, brand management and innovation management.

The social dimension takes into consideration the development and management of human capital, philanthropy, health and safety in the workplace, supplier management and stakeholder engagement, while analysis of the environmental dimension includes environmental reporting, policy and the management system.

For more info: www.sustainability-indexes.com

Dedication to the environment
Fiat’s dedication to environmental concerns can be witnessed at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, where the company’s stand will focus on the themes of technical innovation, Italian design and respect for the environment. For Fiat Automobiles, dedication to environmental protection and sustainable mobility is a major driving force in product design and continuous improvement. Having posted, for the second year running, the lowest average value for CO2 emissions from the vehicles sold in 2008: 133.7 g/km (137.3 g/km in 2007), Fiat Group Automobiles is aiming to achieve the lowest average adjusted level of CO2 emissions for its cars by 2012.

Further confirmation of this dedication comes from Fiat’s unquestioned European leadership in the field of methane-fuelled vehicles (OEM). Fiat is the first and only manufacturer to offer, in its Natural Power range, a wide choice of vehicles with methane-petrol dual fuel systems designed to meet a wide variety of mobility requirements.

With the real needs of customers in mind, Fiat is determined to reduce emissions by introducing new engines, new technologies and new applications.

New engines, like the MultiAir units developed and patented by FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies – will gradually be installed in all Fiat Group cars. The new MultiAir engines represent a genuine step forward compared to present-day petrol engine technology, just as Fiat’s common rail technology did for diesel engines in the 1990s. Compared with a conventional petrol engine of equivalent size, a MultiAir engine develops more power (up to 10%) and torque (up to 15%), while consuming significantly less fuel (up to 10%) and emitting less CO2 (up to 10%), less particulates (up to 40%) and less NOx (up to 60%).

The heart of MultiAir is a new electrohydraulic valve management system that reduces fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves (without using the throttle) and reduces polluting emissions too (via combustion control). As befits a flag-bearer for the downsizing concept, MultiAir is a versatile system that is easily applicable to all petrol engines and may potentially be developed for diesel engines in the future.

Fiat is also introducing its second generation MultiJet diesel engines, including a 95 HP 1.3 unit with new common rail injectors. Thanks to a balanced hydraulic servo-valve, this engine controls the quantity of fuel injected into the combustion chamber with improved precision, and in a faster and more flexible sequence than in the past. This means more accurate combustion with benefits for consumption, emissions, NVH and drivability. The new common rail injector modulates fuel injection into the combustion chamber and gives, for Euro 5 engines, an improvement of around 2% in consumption and CO2 emissions on the homologation cycle, and a reduction in NOx emissions of up to 30%.

Fiat is also dedicated to developing and producing new technologies like Start&Stop (presented for the first time on the Fiat 500; introduced as standard on all Euro 5 petrol and diesel versions of the new Punto Evo; and soon to appear on other Fiat models too), as well as new applications like eco:Drive, the innovative software that analyses driving style and helps drivers improve their performance in terms of consumption and emissions, all through a standard equipment USB port. This system is available for the Fiat 500, Grande Punto, Punto Evo, Bravo, Qubo and Croma, and over 50,000 customers have already downloaded it free of charge from the www.fiat.com/ecodrive website in the first eight months since its launch.

More than 20,000 people now use it continuously to monitor their driving style, taking part in a lively exchange of views on eco:Ville, an online community where drivers can share their commitment to eco-responsible driving. A great public success but also a specific commitment, eco:Drive advice has already made it possible to save more than 1500 tons of CO2 in Europe.

How does it work? As you drive, eco:Drive collects information on how you handle the vehicle and its efficiency. All data is relayed through the Blue&Me infotainment system USB port to a standard USB drive where it can be read on a computer. Users can then take an accurate look at their fuel consumption and emissions for each trip (essentially creating their own eco-Index) and receive advice on achieving a more eco-friendly driving style. They can actually improve their score by progressing through a series of tutorials: motorists who are more concerned about becoming eco-responsible drivers can expect a 15% improvement in their driving style, which means cutting CO2 emissions by 15% and an annual fuel saving of 120-200 Euros.

The system will also be constantly updated with contributions from its users to make it even more useful. The eco:Drive system uses Blue&Me technology that has received various international awards. Some 800,000 units have already been installed in just two years in various Fiat Group models.

Another development of eco:Drive is closely associated with the launch of Blue&Me-TomTom on the new Punto Evo. This new system will offer eco:Drive Info – real time information on driving style and suggestions for reducing environmental impact and optimising fuel consumption by changing gear and using the accelerator correctly.

Finally, eco:Drive was a protagonist at the 56th International Advertising Festival in Cannes this year, where it won the Grand Prix, the most prestigious award, in the Cyber class. More recently, at the beginning of August, it won Auto Express’s Special Award at the magazine’s New Car Awards 2009.