Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Italian automaker Fiat, which is on a comeback trail after the forgettable experiences of the past, including a failed sales network partnership with the Tatas, is trying to re-establish its base in the country after going solo last year.
As per a financial daily report, the company has plans to manufacture a permium sports utility vehicle (SUV) under its popular brand—Jeep--and export it to the global market including UK, South Africa and Australia.
The paper further said that the production under the project will begin by the end of 2016.
It is intensifying efforts to expand its sales network by adding additional dealerships across the country.
The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has been adding new models in its product portfolio this year to rev-up its sales.
It has set a target of five products by the end of this year and nine by 2016 in its Indian line up.
Later this year, the company plans to launch luxury hatchback Abarth 500.
Italian-American auto major Fiat Chrysler plans to launch 12 models in India in the next five years and will start producing models from the Jeep brand in the country by 2015.
In 2015, the group will introduce the much-awaited Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models from the Jeep brand and Abarth Punto. The Grand Cherokee and Abarth Punto will be locally produced, while Wrangler will be imported.
The group's plant at Ranjangoan in Maharashtra will roll out six models across three platforms by 2018, up from the current three models from a single platform. The facility will produce six types of engines from the current three.
By 2018 the group expects to have a vehicle production capacity of 2,45,000 units annually, compared with 1,35,000 at present.
While the total engine capacity will remain the same at 3,50,000 units, for transmission units, it will go up to 3,30,000 by 2018 from the current level of 3,00,000 units.
With Agency Inputs
