Friday, September 09, 2011
By Pranjal Gera
Upcoming small car likely to prompt Fiat to set-up solo sales network in India
If the recent industry speculations are to be believed, the decision of Italian car makers of setting-up stand alone sales outlets in about 20 cities of the country could well be prompted due to the upcoming small car of Fiat in the country. The market analysts believe that Fiat may have decided to start preparing self sufficient sales network for its upcoming compact segment car.
The industry sources add that the upcoming small car of Fiat bears great potential in the Indian market and the firm would definitely not like to repeat the previous failures this time around. Despite having highly competitive cars in its Indian portfolio including premium hatchback Fiat Grande Punto and mid-size sedan Fiat Linea, the firm hasn’t been able to make a mark in the Indian auto market. Both of these fiat portfolio cars are performing moderately on sales front despite having the potential of being leaders of their respective segments.
| See More Fiat Grande Punto Pictures | Get Fiat Grande Punto Price |
The Indian auto giant Tata Motors and Italian Fiat had joined hands about four years back. As per the tie-up, the Fiat vehicles are sold and serviced through Tata dealerships and service-stations, respectively. But the tie-up hasn’t brought the results as was expected before. Thus, now Fiat India may like to concentrate on brand building, on which front it hasn’t done much in the country, so far.
| See More Fiat Linea Pictures | Get Fiat Linea Price |
The new Fiat small car will be positioned below the Fiat Punto hatchback and would be rolled-out in the price segment of sub Rs 4 lakh, where it will be competing with the likes of Maruti Wagon R, Maruti A-Star, Maruti Zen Estilo, Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10, etc.
