The charges say the managers' work included calibrating several software features in the vehicles' emissions control systems to meet emissions standards.

The newly combined entity — now the world's fourth-largest automaker based on FCA's and PSA Group's 2019 sales — has to plot strategies for a long list of brands as it responds to evolving consumer preferences and economic uncertainty created by the pandemic.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, in an exclusive interview, said the next steps for his new leadership group will be executing cost-saving ideas and completing bottom-up strategic planning.

The brand will remain a force in the U.S. and make more inroads globally as a cornerstone of the merged Fiat Chrysler and PSA automakers.

Vijay Sankaran, who had spent 12 years with the automaker until 2013, is the former chief information officer of TD Ameritrade. He will be tasked with speeding the development and application of technology, software and data.

The automaker, in one of its final quarterly financial reports before its planned merger with PSA, said it earned $3 billion in North America, up 26 percent from a year ago.

The Grand Wagoneer, one of Jeep's storied nameplates, is being resurrected as a tech-laden, plug-in hybrid concept that includes the industry's first passenger infotainment screen in an SUV.

U.S. District Judge Paul Borman ruled that new evidence GM brought in its amended complaint was "too speculative." The automaker said it will appeal the ruling.

FCA said GM's attempt to revive a federal racketeering case that a judge dismissed in July with new claims of bribery and corporate espionage is "meritless and should be denied."

The automaker took a hit as its plants around the world closed for weeks to reduce spread of the coronavirus, but despite this, its North American operations contributed a small profit despite lost production due to the pandemic.

A preliminary prospectus filed Friday reveals talks between the companies were halted twice, once when FCA proposed a merger with Renault in May 2019 and again three months later when there was a disagreement between the automakers on the amount of the pre-merger distribution to FCA's shareholders.

Fiat Chrysler and PSA said the Stellantis name "will be used exclusively at the group level, as a corporate brand" and that the names and the logos of the group's constituent brands will remain unchanged.

Sproule, 51, told Automotive News his last day is Friday. He decided he wanted to do something different with his life and pursue other interests. He began his stint on Feb. 3.

Most salaried employees globally will have to give up 20 percent of their pay for three months. CEO Mike Manley will have his salary cut by half. Nineteen other top execs will take a 30 percent hit.

The employees are the first U.S. auto plant workers known to have died after contracting the virus.