Automotive Supplier Diversity Drives Forward as FCA US Marks 17th Year of MatchMaker

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Sep 15, 2016, 03:10 ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Event has generated more than $2.5 billion in new business opportunities for exhibitors since inception in 2000
Event attracts more than 250 diverse suppliers showcasing automotive innovations and technologies to more than 3,000 attendees
In 2015, FCA US spent $3 billion with minority-, women- and veteran-owned suppliers

Scott Thiele, Chief Purchasing Officer, FCA NV (left), Kevin Bell, Head of Diversity Supplier Development and Training, FCA US (center), and Steven Phillips, ConForm Automotive President and CEO (right) discuss material options during the 17th annual MatchMaker held at FCA US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Sept. 15, 2016. MatchMaker provides more than 250 minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses access to 3,000 attendees ranging from FCA US leadership and buyers to tier one suppliers and leaders to advocacy and certifying organizations.

FCA US LLC hosted its 17th annual MatchMaker on Sept. 15, bringing more than 3,000 participants to its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. MatchMaker provides more than 250 minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses access to FCA US leadership and buyers, tier one suppliers and leaders from advocacy and certifying organizations like the Women Business Enterprise National Council and the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

In 2015, FCA US spent $3 billion with approximately 232 minority-, women- and veteran-owned suppliers, representing 8 percent of the Company's total annual purchasing. Since 1983, the Company has purchased nearly $55 billion from diverse suppliers.

"FCA US has a rich history supporting diversity in the automotive supply base and we continue to push ourselves to build a network of diverse businesses working toward a common goal," said Scott Thiele, Global Purchasing Officer for FCA NV and Head of Purchasing and Supplier Quality for FCA – North America. "We know that diverse teams spark creativity and help us deliver exceptional products to our global customer base. This leads to sustained growth for all of us."

MatchMaker has generated more than $2.5 billion in new business opportunities for minority-, women- and veteran-owned suppliers since 2000.

FCA US offers exhibitors the unique opportunity to participate in seminars designed to help strengthen their businesses, as well as give them a forum to pitch innovative ideas to key decision makers. The seminars, led by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Minority Business Development Agency, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and others, cover such topics as creating compelling marketing materials, developing long-term financial strategies, working with customs organizations and refining reporting practices.

The Company's supplier diversity goals require that up to 11.5 percent of a tier one supplier's buy be sourced to certified minority and women suppliers. MatchMaker is just one event where tier one suppliers are matched with innovative, diverse tier two suppliers.

FCA US also supports several organizations that assist tier one suppliers with achieving these sourcing goals, including the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and the National Veteran-Owned Business Association.

About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands, as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli.

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA."

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