Fiat's India strategy revealed

desertfox · 17th July 2013, 11:07

Waiting for the news, I am going to buy a Jeep Wrangler the day it is launched.

mpksuhas · 17th July 2013, 12:02

Saw in last Sunday's NDTV Car and Bike show that they have a review of Jeep Wrangler coming up this weekend. Siddarth VP was also mentioning that Wrangler is to be launched in India in sometime.

Maverick79 · 17th July 2013, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKS

If you notice there are three cars. And MH 12 is Ranjangaon, where Fiat's plant is.

MH12 is Pune City registration.
MH14 is Pimpri Chinchwad Muncipal Corporation registration.
Ranjangaon is far off by some 70 odd kms from Pune RTA office.

From the below link, It seems, Ranjangaon doesn't have any unique registration office.

http://www.rtopune.info/contact.htm

Regards,
Maverick79

Oranger · 17th July 2013, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick79

MH12 is Pune City registration.
MH14 is Pimpri Chinchwad Muncipal Corporation registration.
Ranjangaon is far off by some 70 odd kms from Pune RTA office.

From the below link, It seems, Ranjangaon doesn't have any unique registration office.

http://www.rtopune.info/contact.htm

Regards,
Maverick79

Ranjangaon falls under RTO pune itself.
I have seen all these cars including a Cherokee on pune roads lately.
Seems these are plant owned vehicles and not test ones, as they do not carry a test license plate.

anachronix · 22nd July 2013, 18:54

Motoroids has scooped the Punto Abarth!

http://www.motoroids.com/news/fiat-p...in-coimbatore/

fiat_tarun · 23rd July 2013, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by anachronix

Motoroids has scooped the Punto Abarth!

http://www.motoroids.com/news/fiat-p...in-coimbatore/

This car is not a Fiat test car. It is owned by Jayam Auto (confirmed by someone I spoke to there).

I don't think Fiat will being the Essesse version to India. We will see the regular Abarth, atleast to start with.

thesilentone · 24th July 2013, 08:57

In today's 'The Hindu' paper there is an article which states that all the new Fiat badged products are going to be manufactured in Ranjangaon but the Punto Abarth and the Jeep vehicles are going to be CBU units. IMO Jeep will be starting off on the wrong foot with steep CBU pricing which could prove detrimental to it's prospects. CKD should have been the way to go. Also those eyeing a sweet price for the Punto Abarth will also be disappointed.

fiat_tarun · 24th July 2013, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesilentone

In today's 'The Hindu' paper there is an article which states that all the new Fiat badged products are going to be manufactured in Ranjangaon but the Punto Abarth and the Jeep vehicles are going to be CBU units. IMO Jeep will be starting off on the wrong foot with steep CBU pricing which could prove detrimental to it's prospects. CKD should have been the way to go. Also those eyeing a sweet price for the Punto Abarth will also be disappointed.

Seriously, what is up with Fiat. I read the article too and I was very surprised to see that the Abarth will be a CBU

After all the promises from Enrico that it will be made locally they now backtrack on that.

It's success as a locally made product itself was a big question and if the article is right they've already killed Abarth before it's been launched.

rohanjf · 24th July 2013, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesilentone

In today's 'The Hindu' paper there is an article which states that all the new Fiat badged products are going to be manufactured in Ranjangaon but the Punto Abarth and the Jeep vehicles are going to be CBU units. IMO Jeep will be starting off on the wrong foot with steep CBU pricing which could prove detrimental to it's prospects. CKD should have been the way to go. Also those eyeing a sweet price for the Punto Abarth will also be disappointed.

I do agree that Abarth Punto should not be CBU. It looks like half the components are manufactured in India already. Then why not import only the components specific to Abarth Punto and assemble it here?

However, I believe importing flagship Jeep models is the right strategy: it helps in introducing the brand quickly, while the process to set up local assembly/manufacture of cheaper models goes on (which cannot be completed in a year for sure). Also, the market for Grand Cherokee is not big enough to assemble it here. Even with a price difference of 10L Rs for a 50L Rs car, Jeep may be able to sell 10 CKD cars per month instead of 8 CBU cars!

Biraj · 24th July 2013, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohanjf

Jeep may be able to sell 10 CKD cars per month instead of 8 CBU cars!

+1 to that. It's better to test the waters with a few CBU units than investing heavily and then incur loss. Given the current state of the industry and more importantly (Fiat's positioning in India), it will be important for the group to test the acceptance for the Chrysler brand/products. If the initial response is good, then they can always move to CKD and then maybe even start manufacturing the products in India.

I am just speculating but there might be a case in launching the Punto with T-jet engine at 7-8 lacs price bracket and then make the CBU Abarth version a lifestyle product at 25-30 lacs. Let's wait and watch how Fiat plays its cards.

StarrySky · 25th July 2013, 10:16

There's a report in today's Malayala Manorama newspaper on the upcoming models from Fiat in India. According to the report, the following models are coming to India:

1. Punto Abarth (165hp version). Expected price: Rs. 13-15L. The report says that no decision has yet been made on bringing the 180hp version to India.

2. 500 Abarth (140hp). Expected price: Rs.20L+

3. Fiat Bravo (MJD, 1910cc, 150hp). Expected price: Rs.18-20L. Expected launch 2014.

4. Fiat Panda (Same engine options as Punto). Expected price: Rs.8-10L. Expected launch mid-2014.

5. Small car. Expected price around Rs.3L.

gsurya · 25th July 2013, 10:38

@StarrySky:

Fiat Panda if its around 10L for the fully loaded version is absolutely brilliant. Will be ideal Ecosport competitor, its a superb city:weekend 80:20 car.

Rest of the cars are immaterial, dont think Fiat can do a 3L car; maybe sub 5L.

HammerHead · 25th July 2013, 11:02

Quote: