FCA US Matchmaker Program Celebrates 16th Year Creating Opportunities for Minority Businesses and Communities

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Sep 17, 2015, 01:30 ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich, Sept. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Annual trade fair grew to more than 3100 participants in 2015
More than 270 minority, women, veteran and majority-owned FCA US suppliers participated in the day-long program
Matchmaker has generated more than $2.3 billion in new business opportunities for exhibitors since 2000

FCA US LLC continued to demonstrate its deep commitment to supplier diversity and minority supplier development, hosting the 16th annual Matchmaker event today at the Company's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Matchmaker provides minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses access to FCA US Tier 1 suppliers and to decision makers in the Company's procurement organization. The program has generated more than $2.3 billion in new business opportunities for exhibitors since 2000.

Matchmaker continues to be the much-copied, premier networking trade event in the automotive supplier community. This year's Matchmaker attracted more than 3,100 participants. More than 270 minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and majority-owned FCA US suppliers participated in the day-long event.

"FCA US is committed to creating a diverse and sustainable supply base that directly reflects our customers," said Tom Finelli, Vice President, NAFTA Purchasing and Supplier Quality, FCA US LLC. "Programs like Matchmaker enable FCA US to operate efficiently and sustainably, and to bring innovative new products to market that resonate with a diverse customer base. These programs also ensure that the economic benefits of our business are shared with members of our diverse communities."

FCA US supplier diversity goals require that 11.5 percent of a Tier 1 supplier's procurement buy be sourced to certified minority suppliers. The goal for women-owned suppliers is 3 percent. FCA US itself spent $2.6 billion with approximately 200 minority suppliers in 2014, representing 7.2 percent of the Company's total annual purchasing. Since 1983, the Company has purchased nearly $53 billion from minority-owned suppliers.

In addition to its robust business-to-business feature, Matchmaker offers minority-owned suppliers unique opportunities to participate in a wide range of development seminars designed to give these suppliers knowledge that can help strengthen their businesses. 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 access to capital and minority business services, merger and acquisition strategies, the use of various computer programs designed to assist Tier 1 and minority suppliers to do business with one another and the implications of federal healthcare reform for small and medium-sized businesses.

FCA US continues to support several organizations that assist Tier 1 suppliers with achieving their minority-owned and women-owned sourcing goals. These organizations include the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. In addition, FCA US supports veteran-business ownership through membership with 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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