FIAT's new strategy + Linea confirmed

GeekSrik · 15th December 2006, 11:07

Hey guys

As i have read on the palio users groups, if fiat linea has chinese engine, then obviously all price points can be met.

As for performace and reliability of chinese manufactured fiat engines, god help fiat and the customers.

Hoping to see the new multijet 1.3 sooner!!

hondadude · 15th December 2006, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by brraj

Shocked, Fiat Linea with 140-150 bhp under 8-9lkhs

.

This will shake the whole car industry

True, but is it confirmed that a 140-150 bhp engine will come to India ? Most of the engines are detuned for India.

prabuddhadg · 15th December 2006, 11:29

That is great news; the Grande Punto and the Linea are great lookers themselves. And 140bhp variants would burn the roads.
But oddly enough, I read in the TOI today that Fiat would also be assisting Tata in the 1 lac car!? I am confused.

finneyp · 15th December 2006, 11:29

Great News indeed! Finally, it seems Fiat India got its India strategy right!

Awaiting the launch of Grande Punto and Linea in India, it will surely stir up the Indian car market!
Also they are ramping up the Fiat-Tata dealers from 42 to 100, so the Service issues too should be sorted out.

himanshugoswami · 15th December 2006, 11:50

4000 Cr. investment- and that too in a JV with Tata- so this means that Tata will have an equal stake in ensuring that fiat products sell as well as tata aproducts.

Hopefully, this should set at rest all speculation about fiat's commitment to India. There have been more than a few voices on this site who have expressed shock whenever anyone was recommended a new Fiat as a possible purchase. hopefully, this news should inspire more confidence in people......

WhiteKnight · 15th December 2006, 12:23

Exciting development indeed! But I think either FIAT is showing their cards too early, or they still don't know what they are doing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Fiat's alliance with Tata Motors has given the brand new lease of life in India and now it's working to position itself as a premium brand while trying to avoid conflict of interest with Tatas.

Okay, this sounds good, but how does FIAT wake up and become a premium brand one day? (I am refering to FIAT India/ not Europe) Moving a brand up the value chain is almost impossible. So, here are the options
1) As MPower mentioned, they'll have to bring another brand from their stable, say Alfa. But Alfa doesn't have that much visibility in India. Remember who are the ringmasters in c and D segments! Honda and Toyota
2) Focus on Diesel and Diesel alone, also become a OEM Supplier for Engines

Quote:

Originally Posted by basilmabraham

If Fiat concentrates on the C and D segment, there would be no clash of products between Tata and Fiat, as Tata is yet to come up with a premium C or D segment car

For me clash of products between TATA and FIAT is not at all a concern, because neither are market leaders in any segment. The key question is how the alliance can take on the heavyweights? Unless they do it somehow, the alliance is going nowhere!

Last but not the least, 2008 is still long way, and FIAT's announcement will give others enough time to re-strategize. Also I would like to know about Palio/Petra replacements

Anyway TATA-FIAT alliance is definitely positive for the customer and the industry. So, let's cross our fingers and wait

sreenivass · 15th December 2006, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

Hey guys

As i have read on the palio users groups, if fiat linea has chinese engine, then obviously all price points can be met.

As for performace and reliability of chinese manufactured fiat engines, god help fiat and the customers.

Hoping to see the new multijet 1.3 sooner!!

Linea with chinese diesel engine sounds like death knell to me, FIAT will be digging their own grave.

I do not see the possibility though, FIAT maker such wonderful diesel engines why would they fit some from China ?

Palio_2005 · 15th December 2006, 13:57

This is indeed great news. Now we can have more Fiat cars on the roads. It is very clear what the strategy is. By using a mix of Tata and Fiat cars these companies can offer products in all price brackets starting from Indica - Xeta at the lower end to Linea at the top end with Palio/Punto/Petra/Indigo/Marina in between for the petrol. In diesel they would have Indica/Punto/Indigo/Marina and Linea again.

I doubt if any other manufacturer can offer such a wide choice.

kvish · 15th December 2006, 14:20

Lets face it!.. "Cars" have never been the problem for Fiat... Fiat is known to screw up genuinely good cars. The issue is with spares and service. Unless FIAT doesnt setup service centers on their own and revamp their supply chain , localize the spares... I see them heading nowhere...
I am not happy with the service of TATA-FIAT either...yes they have more service centers...but they are LOADED with Indicabs and Sumos.. They treat cars like scrap.. A visit to Concorde motors service center in Bangalore will reveal it ...My M800 is treated much better in Maruti service center than my Adventure... Imagine C segment cars being treated that way next to Indicabs....it simply wont scale...they might increase service centers from 42 to 100 if not 400..
the cars they are planning to launch deserves a better service network...

I sincerely hope that they sort these things out...after all we as consumers are surely going to benefit from few of the most advanced cars for the money..

Any news about the 6 speed manual, 150Bhp Grande punto? Are the bookngs open?

sridhar24 · 15th December 2006, 14:46

Thats a great news both Punto and Linea are very good cars. Hope these cars changes the fortunes of Fiat in India.

man23ish · 15th December 2006, 20:19

Well Honestly, I don't understand Fiat's strategy.. Fiat now comes in as a premium car maker in India imitating its more illustrious german counterparts to improve their image. But it loses out on the volume business in the B+ segment. If only it could have bought out products like Hyundai did.

With Tata slowly getting into premium products (Indiva and X'over) project. Fiat's sales may get cannibalised. On the other hand, Fiat cannot lower its prices otherwise Fiat sales might eat up into TATA's sales of their premium cars..

The Indian consumer being as cost conscious as he is. The Fiat products will mostly sell in Metros and big towns. Fiat could have easily setup and managed its sales/service in big towns and cities..

Besides, the Tata technician working on a Fiat product is not a very encouraging situation.

It is a tricky situation to be in.

Mpower · 15th December 2006, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteKnight

Okay, this sounds good, but how does FIAT wake up and become a premium brand one day? (I am refering to FIAT India/ not Europe) Moving a brand up the value chain is almost impossible. So, here are the options
1) As MPower mentioned, they'll have to bring another brand from their stable, say Alfa. But Alfa doesn't have that much visibility in India. Remember who are the ringmasters in c and D segments! Honda and Toyota

It will be an uphill battle, but I think its easier to start with a new brand rather than try to fix the reputation of a tarnished one. People accepted Skoda instantly because they had a solid product. If not Alfa, then rename all FIATs as Lancias or something. For eg. if the Cedia was called Ambassador-Cedia, it would be hard to market too.

mahadev_kc · 15th December 2006, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Fiat has done a turnaround in Europe due to Grande Punto and Linea. So they must be doing things right, finally. Hope they do the same here. It will be a big relief to all Fiat owners and a performance sedan in the mid size price range will be good competition to the assortment of mileage mules which currently dot the category from 5-10L.

Their turnaround is based on Grande Punto and establishing partnerships. Linea is yet to come and probably in Q1-2008 in india, q1-2007 in europe.

ported_head · 16th December 2006, 00:02

I think that the FIAT fanclub needs to start to accept criticisms with a pinch of salt. On a public forum, drpullockaran's ownership experience of the Indica would hold as much weightage as would Steeroid's experience of the Alfa. We have all had good cars and bad cars, often from marques we respect the most. That still doesn't call for biased propaganda.

I may prefer the FIAT for the looks (subjective) and the engine (1.6L, also subjective because not everybody looks for performance), but the fact of the matter is that the Indica still does better in the Indian market, so they must be doing something right.

Guys, let's keep it clean and unbiased and not personal. Some posts may be edited to get thread back on track.

fight_club · 16th December 2006, 04:04

well i have a question, by all likelyhood Linea will come in 2007 end, dont you guys think its a tad too late. i think optra will have its diesel out by march-april. verna and fiesta are bitterly fighting for that all important c segment. with a price tag of 7-8 lacs and size of corrola it can eat into both c and d segment. why delay it. if Fiat wants to return with a bang here.

15th December 2006, 11:07	#16
GeekSrik Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,281 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	Fiat linea to have chinese engine? Hey guys As i have read on the palio users groups, if fiat linea has chinese engine, then obviously all price points can be met. As for performace and reliability of chinese manufactured fiat engines, god help fiat and the customers. Hoping to see the new multijet 1.3 sooner!!
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 11:29	#18
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	That is great news; the Grande Punto and the Linea are great lookers themselves. And 140bhp variants would burn the roads. But oddly enough, I read in the TOI today that Fiat would also be assisting Tata in the 1 lac car!? I am confused.
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 11:29	#19
finneyp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,716 Thanked: 319 Times View My Garage	Great News indeed! Finally, it seems Fiat India got its India strategy right! Awaiting the launch of Grande Punto and Linea in India, it will surely stir up the Indian car market! Also they are ramping up the Fiat-Tata dealers from 42 to 100, so the Service issues too should be sorted out.
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 11:50	#20
himanshugoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 2,303 Thanked: 2,619 Times	4000 Cr. investment- and that too in a JV with Tata- so this means that Tata will have an equal stake in ensuring that fiat products sell as well as tata aproducts. Hopefully, this should set at rest all speculation about fiat's commitment to India. There have been more than a few voices on this site who have expressed shock whenever anyone was recommended a new Fiat as a possible purchase. hopefully, this news should inspire more confidence in people......
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 13:57	#23
Palio_2005 BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 991 Thanked: 878 Times	This is indeed great news. Now we can have more Fiat cars on the roads. It is very clear what the strategy is. By using a mix of Tata and Fiat cars these companies can offer products in all price brackets starting from Indica - Xeta at the lower end to Linea at the top end with Palio/Punto/Petra/Indigo/Marina in between for the petrol. In diesel they would have Indica/Punto/Indigo/Marina and Linea again. I doubt if any other manufacturer can offer such a wide choice.
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 14:20	#24
kvish BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 627 Thanked: 195 Times	Lets face it!.. "Cars" have never been the problem for Fiat... Fiat is known to screw up genuinely good cars. The issue is with spares and service. Unless FIAT doesnt setup service centers on their own and revamp their supply chain , localize the spares... I see them heading nowhere... I am not happy with the service of TATA-FIAT either...yes they have more service centers...but they are LOADED with Indicabs and Sumos.. They treat cars like scrap.. A visit to Concorde motors service center in Bangalore will reveal it ...My M800 is treated much better in Maruti service center than my Adventure... Imagine C segment cars being treated that way next to Indicabs....it simply wont scale...they might increase service centers from 42 to 100 if not 400.. the cars they are planning to launch deserves a better service network... I sincerely hope that they sort these things out...after all we as consumers are surely going to benefit from few of the most advanced cars for the money.. Any news about the 6 speed manual, 150Bhp Grande punto? Are the bookngs open?
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 14:46	#25
sridhar24 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,046 Thanked: 88 Times	Thats a great news both Punto and Linea are very good cars. Hope these cars changes the fortunes of Fiat in India.
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 20:19	#26
man23ish BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 626 Thanked: 18 Times	Well Honestly, I don't understand Fiat's strategy.. Fiat now comes in as a premium car maker in India imitating its more illustrious german counterparts to improve their image. But it loses out on the volume business in the B+ segment. If only it could have bought out products like Hyundai did. With Tata slowly getting into premium products (Indiva and X'over) project. Fiat's sales may get cannibalised. On the other hand, Fiat cannot lower its prices otherwise Fiat sales might eat up into TATA's sales of their premium cars.. The Indian consumer being as cost conscious as he is. The Fiat products will mostly sell in Metros and big towns. Fiat could have easily setup and managed its sales/service in big towns and cities.. Besides, the Tata technician working on a Fiat product is not a very encouraging situation. It is a tricky situation to be in.
	() Thanks

16th December 2006, 00:02	#29
ported_head Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 20 Times	I think that the FIAT fanclub needs to start to accept criticisms with a pinch of salt. On a public forum, drpullockaran's ownership experience of the Indica would hold as much weightage as would Steeroid's experience of the Alfa. We have all had good cars and bad cars, often from marques we respect the most. That still doesn't call for biased propaganda. I may prefer the FIAT for the looks (subjective) and the engine (1.6L, also subjective because not everybody looks for performance), but the fact of the matter is that the Indica still does better in the Indian market, so they must be doing something right. Guys, let's keep it clean and unbiased and not personal. Some posts may be edited to get thread back on track.
	() Thanks

16th December 2006, 04:04	#30
fight_club BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 152 Thanked: 40 Times	well i have a question, by all likelyhood Linea will come in 2007 end, dont you guys think its a tad too late. i think optra will have its diesel out by march-april. verna and fiesta are bitterly fighting for that all important c segment. with a price tag of 7-8 lacs and size of corrola it can eat into both c and d segment. why delay it. if Fiat wants to return with a bang here.
	() Thanks

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