At a time when car sales are dropping sharply and slowdown-hit vehicle makers cutting production, Italian car maker Fiat said on Friday it wants to overcome the slump through two launches in India -- the Linea sedan in December and the Grande Punto in February next year.
"The best way to tackle market slowdown is to launch attractive products. Linea is probably the best car in its segment and hence, would be accepted by Indian car buyers," said Rajeev Kapoor, chief executive officer of Fiat India Automobiles, an equal joint venture between Fiat and India's Tata Motors [Get Quote].
The company on Friday rolled out the Linea from the plant at Ranjangaon near Pune in Maharashtra, from where production of the car began. The car, positioned in the C-plus segment, would be launched commercially in the third week of December at an expected price range of Rs 700,000-Rs 900,000. The Fiat Linea is a small family car released in 2007 by the Italian auto maker.
The company also announced major export plans for its seven-year-old model Palio, being manufactured at the car assembly and powertrain engines plant at Ranjangaon.
The company is already exporting Palio to South Africa and West Asian countries and this volume would be increased as the plant increases its capacity utilisation.
The plant has a capacity to manufacture 2,00,000 cars along with 3,00,000 engines and 3,00,000 spare parts and accessories annually. "We have planned huge production volumes for Linea, which would also be exported to South Africa, the Gulf countries and Asia Pacific region," Kapoor stated.
The manufacturing of its 'B-segment' hatchback Grande Punto will begin in January next year, he said.
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