Fiat India to locally assemble or manufacture majority of line up by 2016

Fiat India has said that it will locally assemble or manufacture almost its entire line up by 2016. However, the exception to this plan will be the products with Chrysler and Abarth badges, both of which they have confirmed will arrive in the country via the CBU (Completely Built Unit). 

A report from the Hindu suggests that Fiat India will launch four new products next year in addition to the SUVs from Chrysler and high performance vehicles from Abarth. This list comprises a new Punto hatchback, Linea Classic as well as the 2014 Linea and a compact SUV. 

The current Linea is expected to become the Linea Classic while the 2014 Linead model will be the car that was unveiled in Turkey earlier this year. While the Punto due for a facelift, we expect that the compact SUV will be the Fiat 500X. The Italian automaker also plans to launch SUVs in the B and C segment by 2016 both which are expected to based either on the Panda or the 500. 

In this regard, Nagesh Basvanahalli, CEO and MD of Fiat Chrysler India said that the company will adapt the CBU route where it has to bring products in quickly. In cases where price plays an important role, he said that they will try to localise the product as much as possible. 

At the end of 2012, Fiat announced grand plans to bring in a whole host of products into the Indian market and this included Chrysler, Abarth and Mopar spare parts. This is a part of the Italian automaker’s major plans after its split with Tata last year. 

Much like every other foreign manufacturer, it seems that Fiat wants to move its major focus out of Europe and focus it on markets like India where the despite an economic downturn, the car buying capacity has not diminished. Having a wider range of products also secures a future for the Multijet diesel mill that Fiat supplies to multiple manufacturers most of whom will soon have their own diesel engines. 

Source: theHindu