Latest Car News in India

Fiat plans 100 dealers by next year end, new Fiat cars in offing as well

Fiat India is certainly on the track for a comeback. The Italian car brand has been quite docile and was hanging around in India with only two offering – Fiat Linea sedan and Fiat Punto hatchback until recently it has added a peppier model Fiat Punto Sport to bring some action. Recently, the car maker has also opened another Fiat Café in Pune. The car maker also hopes to bulge its dealership network to 100 by 2013 end. Notably, the car maker has just ceased its car distribution tie-up with Tata and has now decided to sell its cars independently in the country. The Fiat Café is one such initiative in popularizing Fiat cars in India.

As per the latest information, the car maker hopes to increase its market share from meager 0.7 percent to over 1 percent in the next three years. Experts believe that this is not an aggressive strategy and Fiat is going too slow with India. However, in a statement it has said that it will also be launching new Fiat cars in India. Recently, when everybody expected a new car from the Italian stable, it has launched a more powerful version of the same car. What Fiat needs today is an extension of the line up in almost every segment. Being so dormant all the way will not bring any good to the brand, believes an auto expert. On the other hand, the present strategy cannot be called too aggressive and especially when the brand a greater potential of increasing its market share double fold in less time.

In addition to this, Fiat cars are altogether premium products and bringing in a more affordable car in the entry level segment, a car in the sedan segment and one each in MPV and SUV segment could seek unexpected results for the car maker in India. Currently Linea and Punto are struggling for sales and are not hot selling products in India. However, with a little tweak Fiat can pitch in a small car or an entry level offering that can take on Maruti Alto or Hyundai Eon.