Fiat plans to introduce a new car and two Jeep models in India in 2013.
The company hopes that the launch of the Punto Abarth by June and of the Wrangler and Cherokee by October will help it double its market share. Fiat India’s MD Enrico Atanasio announced at the opening of a new dealership in Kochi that the company currently holds 0.5% of the 2.13 lakh units-a-month Indian car market, and is confident of doubling this by end-2013. The company is in the process of widening its dealer network to 60-65 (currently 20) by March 2013 and 110 by December 2013.
The Ranjangaon plant will be the manufacturing base for both versions of the Punto Abarth (petrol and diesel), while the Wrangler and Cherokee will be imported. The company would launch its ‘B’ and ‘C’ segment SUVs in 2014-15.
The company plans to distribute its Fiat and Jeep models through its own independent dealer network. Currently, the company sells the Fiat Linea and Punto models manufactured by their joint venture with Tata Motors.
