Fiat Chrysler announced its big plans for the Indian market. The company will launch the Jeep and Abarth brand of vehicles in Indian market to start with. 2013 will be a big year for the company where the Italian car company will launch two new brands besides new products.
This is the third entry of the Italian car maker in the Indian market. The company some aggressive plans which includes: new brands, dealer network and new product launches.
Fiat has planned an aggressive line up of 9 models including launching its iconic brand Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler in the Indian market over the next three to four years. A worry for the Fiat car lovers will be resolved as the company has plans to launch a decent dealer network in the Indian market.
Pointers from the Press Conference
Fiat
- Fiat brand will have four distinct products in its portfolio
- Refreshed variant of the Linea and Punto in 2013
- The company will expand its domestic production to include the new Fiat Linea classic edition and the new Fiat Punto edition
- Fiat will launch 4 new products in 2013-2014
- 2014 new gen Punto and SUV will be launched
- All new Linea launch by 2014, to get 1.6-litre Multijet diesel engine
- Fiat will concentrate on B and C segment
- Fiat also plans to launch a SUV
- 120 independent dealerships covering almost 80% of the overall market by end of 2013
- Part of the dealer experience will include Fiat Caffe, which will offer customers the opportunity to learn about FIAT’s heritage and also showcase technological innovations from the Fiat Group portfolio across the world
- Service centers will replicate international service standards in India
Abarth
- Abarth coming to India in 2013
- No details of specific models shared
Jeep
- The Jeep brand will be launched end of 2013 with the launch of Grand Cherokee and later Wrangler
- Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee will be imported towards the end of 2013 and launched as CBUs
- Jeep will fully cover the SUV space in the country right from B to E segment and the distribution of Jeep will be managed by the new distribution company, Fiat Group Automobile India Private Limited
- Will have a dedicated Jeep brand exclusive outlets in some of the key metropolitan cities
- To launch specifically B and C segment small SUVs
- In 2015, the Jeep will launch a B-Segment SUV (no details shared)
- In 2016, a C Segment SUV will be introduced (no details shared)
- Jeep to start local production by 2015-16
- Fiat also plans to use India as a base for exports for not only Fiat branded cars but Jeep SUVs as well
