Team-BHP - Stellantis considers re-launching Fiat and introducing Alfa Romeo in India

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedMaw (Post 5599766)

Stellantis weighs Fiat relaunch in India

https://m.economictimes.com/industry.../102479943.cms

I ll be glad if they succeed. Indeed Fiat is a lovely brand. As is Alfa Romeo. What a great thing it will be if Alfa comes to India. But I do hope they don’t dilute themselves in terms of quality and essential features.
Problem is will they have anything at all for the mass market which ultimately drives everyone’s bread and butter.

Quote:

Stellantis, the world’s third largest carmaker by volume, is considering re-introducing Fiat and a clutch of other marquee brands including the Alfa Romeo into the Indian market even as its immediate priority is to firmly establish Jeep and Citroen brands.

I was pleased to read Fiat but then Alfa Romeo too? that was a pleasant surprise.
Source - Economic Times

They have some very nice affordable cars like the Cronos and Pulse, but those are native Fiat platforms. I suspect they would want to launch new Fiat products for India and Brazil/Argentina based on the CMP platform and those will inevitably be stripped down - speaking of which - shouldn't they focus on fixing Citroën and Jeep before dipping their toes elsewhere?

When Toyota and Maruti Suzuki can operate with such close cooperation and synergy, why can't the brands owned by Stallantis operate as one group? It's pretty stupid not to combine Jeep, Citroën, FIAT, etc. under one roof so that they can have much better network and diverse portfolio of cars - will give the buyers so much more choice and confidence.

Fiat had two innings, none of them are something people remember with joy. They have good products, but they need to understand that their entry level global products are luxury items here in India. They need to get the basics right, from day one. Hyundai has pushed rivals to improve on certain aspects for good, and this has to get reflected in what Stellantis offers. Citroen has good entry level product with good drive quality vis-a-vis rivals, but fails on other parameters that are easily resolvable. When the owner enters a machine he/she has paid through nose, there should be a feel good factor, not only at the time of driving. The Stellantis products were awesome to drive, but others were better in having better touch points. Unless this is sorted and we are given a third world treatment, no amount of money will get them success and we will just be having another list of threads where a car, great to drive, is ignored by car buyers and eventually the car fades into an early sunset. As a car buyer, I would simply not have the confidence to put my money on Steallantis group unless they find some traction and few things correct which aren't major engineering hurdles.

I would love for Fiat to be back! They have some really nice cars in their lineup which they sell in Brazil and Latin American markets.

One thing Fiat should do and get it right from day 1 is launch cars with premium features and AT tranny. If not, they aren't going to get third time lucky!

1. New Fiat Uno
2. Fiat Fastback
3. Fiat Pulse

I'm pretty sure this news would cause a lot of smiles and flutter in heart for Fiat aficionados.

If Alpha Romeo gets launched, it'd be a dream come true. Current models: Giulia/Stelvio have been dream cars for me and their design is so beautiful. They could give serious competition to germans!(?)

Stupid question: if Stellantis is bringing in Fiat & Alfa, why not bring back Maserati?

OTOH, their Citroen bet is not paying off, not atleast now. Jeep is killing itself with just Compass (that seems overpriced) and no mass market models.

Ah! there goes Fiat once again. I still believe announcements by biggies like this, you need to take it with a spoonful of salt. Fiat brought smiles to my face, but Alfa Romeo only looks aspirational for now in my view.

IMHO, I think they should focus only on select products that are truly fun to drive, not very pricey and build it here in India. I don't think any of that would work for Stellantis right now.

The same thought came to my head when i read this thread.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/inter...tis-brand.html

Not as if Fiat completely exited India, also the Jeep showrooms still sport the Fiat, Abarth, Jeep logo. Not sure if they are lazy to change it.

That said, this maybe a way to spread the costs of Citroen in India? Can share models and/or showrooms. Hopefully not just badge engineering. About Alfa romeo. No idea. Three models; two luxury and one model shared with Dodge based on the Compass. Most likely would be just a CBU operation.

I always have a feeling FCA does not want to study what the market wants but decides what it wants in the market.

Jeep - Good brand and great initial run in Indian market. Slowly the price creeping up for their products make it too niche and are slowing pricing themselves out

Fiat - Amazing cars but did not succeed multiple times as the market requirement was different from what fiat offered at that point of time. Same cars today might have a different reception.

Citroen - Same as fiat. The market expectation and citroen's expectation seem to be different. No idea if the new products will find acceptance with a small dealer network.

I would love to have them succeed but with the current product mix, will have to wait and watch.

Being a Fiatian, been hearing this since 2010 and can only laugh

So called, planning, considering, evaluating or even testing has been around since the time Fiat launched the Abarth in India. Post that its been back to the grave.

Stellantis or FCA all they do is sit and see stars and do nothing... They killed the FIAT brand, Jeep is now slowly inching to its grave as well.

Citroen god knows when they will exit India the rate of which they are selling.

Any FIAT/Jeep showroom has no new range of product apart from what is dead in the market, what has Stellantis or FCA done since 2010 to ensure dealers are engaged with a new portfolio or upgrades?? Dealership range is on a decline....

Best what can come is Fiat 500 EV that too now now but in 2028 maybe when the market has moved from EV to maybe Nitrogen fuel or something else even then lets say Fiat gets an EV it will not be priced below 25L to ensure its DOA.

Stellantis or FCA have no set leadership/plan or approach to any of its brands.

An Alfa Romeo in Indian conditions? I’d avoid unless I have a high risk appetite. They used to have a hilariously terrible reputation:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...bility-update/

But much better now I guess: https://www.carthrottle.com/features...-cars-reliable

As an ex owner of FIATs, as much as I love their products, I have no doubt they will botch the execution as they have for the past 20 odd years. The whole stellantis group needs some better advisory from people who are aware of the Indian market and what will sell here.