A deep split has emerged within India's auto industry over the proposed CAFE exemption for small cars, with only Maruti Suzuki and Renault backing the move in the final SIAM vote.
It is eyeing doubling its market share.
The company expects sales to cross 27,000 units this year on the back of newly launched small car Grande Punto and sedan Linea.
Italian automobile giant Fiat is exploring options to manufacture light commercial vehicles with a load carrying capacity between 0.8 tonnes and 1.8 tonnes in India.
It's like Fiat India has just added a supercharger to its India strategy, after a long lull. The Italian carmaker plans to introduce nine products by 2016 in India. And it includes models from Jeep and rally car brand Abarth.
Italian auto major Fiat Auto has asked Rajeev Kapoor, the newly appointed president and CEO of Fiat Auto India Automobiles, to take charge of the Indian operations after managing director De Filippis Giovanni's recall from the position about a week back.
MSIL, India's biggest car maker, said it was in advanced talks with Fiat to ink a diesel engine sourcing contract that would allow it to rapidly increase diesel model supplies into the market.
Fiat India Automobiles targets to export 3,000-3,200 Lineas to South Africa in the next 12 months and would start exporting Grande Punto to that country as well. Palio is already being exported.
Until recently, the JV, Fiat India Automobile, was languishing with heavy losses.
Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd (FIAPL), the three-year-old joint venture company formed through the association of Tata Motors and Fiat Auto SpA, is facing rough weather, as it posted record losses last year.
Fiat India Automobiles Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Italy-based Fiat SpA and domestic auto major Tata Motors, plans to position the car in the premium hatchback segment along with Maruti Suzuki's Ritz, Hyundai's i20, Skoda's Fabia and to be launched Honda Siel's Jazz, the company said.
Fiat India Automobiles Ltd, a 50-50 JV between Fiat Group Automobiles and Tata Motors Ltd, has sold 10,000 units of its sedan, Linea, since its launch in January this year.
The Tata-Fiat joint venture is looking at catering to the global demand for engines through its Ranjangaon plant.
Fiat India Automobiles, a joint venture between Tata Motors and Fiat Group, on Monday said it would invest Rs 2,341 crore (Rs 23.41 billion) to expand its facility in Ranjangaon plant in Pune.Fiat plans to ramp up its operations to produce up to two lakh cars, three lakh engines and three lakh automotive parts and accessories.
From April 1, 2010, 13 cities will switch to Euro IV. Earlier, industry experts said that the Euro IV emission norms, to be effective from April 2010, would force an upward revision of prices as carmakers were making significant investments to upgrade vehicle engines to make them Euro IV compliant.
"We are studying the feasibility of various Alfa Romeo models for the Indian market. If at all the car is to be launched, it will happen only in the last quarter of 2008," Kapoor said. He, however, did not name the models nor their respective price-tags.
Iconic Italian brand Alfa Romeo is all set to burn rubber on Indian roads next year as Fiat, the parent company, prepares to launch the brand in the local market, according to top Fiat India executives.
Car maker Fiat India has sold its property in Kurla (Mumbai suburb) to IKG Associates for Rs 608 crore (Rs 6.08 billion). IKG is an affiliate of the financial services company IL&FS. The Italian car maker had received bids for the 53 acre plot from leading developers over the past few months.
As part of the product expansion, the company will launch a sporty racy version called Punto Abarth in the third quarter of this year and launch Fiat-Chrysler's Jeep Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee in the fourth quarter.
The company unveiled premium sedan Avventura and high-performance Abarth 500
Now it's the turn of Fiat to unleash its supermini, the Grande Punto, in to the Indian market. The Italian beauty is likely to be priced around Rs 6.5 lakh (Rs 650,000).
A proposal by the joint venture between Tata Motors and Fiat to set up a facility to manufacture the world's most famous small diesel engine -- the 1.3 multijet -- had been rejected by Japan's largest maker of minicars, Suzuki Motor Corporation.
From an average of about 1,800 units a month in 2010-11, Fiat sales dropped to about 900 units a month in the first four months of this financial year, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
Auto major Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) on Wednesday said it will invest $150 million (around Rs 1,103 crore) to set up a global digital hub in Hyderabad to help the group develop new technologies to cater to its automotive operations across the globe. The facility, which is FCA's largest digital hub outside of North America, would create nearly 1,000 jobs by the end of next year.
Here's how the carmaker plans to cover lost ground.
In India, car companies measure wholesale as sales.
The company will also bring global products such as Abarth.
Fiat has come up with a great offer for potential customers: a mid-size Sedan.
The April-June quarter of 2018 happens to be the weakest for the Jeep since the launch, making it evident that it is not easy for a carmaker to sustain growth with a single product.
Fiat Group Automobiles India is the Indian arm of Italian automobile major Fiat. Asked when the financial services division is likely to be rolled out, he said, "We are planning to do that as part of our announcement in April.
The luxury SUVs will compete against models of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volvo, Porsche and Land Rover
The company opened its dealership in Ahmedabad today, which is 28th in the country and the second in Gujarat, after Surat.
The Italian hot hatch with its high-end features along with powerful and refined engine choices poses serious challenge to premium car makers of India.
Fiat Chrysler will be shipping its first India made product - the Compass SUV - to right hand drive markets like UK, Japan, Australia and South Africa in the next few months.
The two new products are part of the company's revival strategy plans in India where it has been struggling to win consumers.
The top six auto brands are: Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Toyota, Kia and Mahindra & Mahindra.
'Gujarat is the frontrunner at present.'
'However, Tamil Nadu's robust automobile ecosystem and Telangana's aggressive incentives make them strong contenders.'
The iconic brand is considering petrol powertrains for its entire Indian portfolio, which includes the Jeep Compass, Meridian, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.
The state transport department recently announced to give permit to 3,000 new taxis.
Fiat Group Automobiles India President and Managing Director Nagesh Basavanhalli said the company will continue to expand its presence in the Indian market.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances