Report - Fiat India to manufacture & export Jeep's C-segment SUV

It would replace the Patriot and Compass models. 

Jeep's product plan for global as well as the Indian market lists out a C-Segment SUV that will launch in the year 2016, mostly towards the end of that year. Details about this new model are scarce but the international media report that the new C-SUV will replace the Jeep Compass and Patriot models, and will slot between the Renegade and the Cherokee.

Adding a bit of twist, the Economic Times states that this SUV will be manufactured in India for domestic as well as export markets like South Africa, U.K. and Australia (right-hand drive markets). The company has put a plan in motion to invest INR 1,500-2,500 crores to make this SUV in India, possibly at a new manufacturing line at the Tata-Fiat joint venture plant in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra.

Sources told the newspaper that development work has already started and the car is codenamed M6 or 556. Production is slated to start in late 2016, and the SUV will be priced at about INR 20-25 lakhs in the domestic market.

Fiat is expected to make an announcement regarding this shortly, as the company was waiting for the Fiat-Chrysler merger to complete.

Also read: 2018 Jeep Wrangler to focus on efficiency and weight loss

Fiat India will launch the Jeep brand next year with two products, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. The smaller Renegade compact SUV is ruled out for India.

Competitors: Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai Santa Fe
Expected Price: INR 20-25 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: End of 2016

[Source - Economic Times]