Zero Fiat models produced in India in February - Report

13/03/2019 - 09:57 Fiat Sagar Parikh

As Fiat’s demise in India nears, production has been ceased suggests a new report from Moneycontrol. Citing SIAM data, the report says that FCA didn’t manufacture a single unit of Fiat models in India last month.

Fiat Punto Evo front at the launch — The Punto Evo, Urban Cross and Avventura face an immediate dead-end, as ABS is not standard in these models.

Fiat’s line-up in India comprises just two models, namely Punto Evo and Linea. There are three derivatives of the former, though: Abarth Punto, Urban Cross and Avventura. The range starts at INR 5,35,562 (ex-showroom New Delhi) for the Punto Evo and goes up to INR 9,89,219 (ex-showroom New Delhi) for the Fiat Avventura in the range-topping configuration.

Fiat’s cars won’t meet the new safety norms that will become effective in the second half of the year, and so, dealerships are clearing inventory at heavy discounts. In fact, the Punto Evo, Urban Cross and Avventura face an immediate dead-end, as ABS is not standard in these models. From 1 April 2019, all new cars sold in India are required to have ABS.

Moving forward, FCA will rely solely on the Jeep brand in the mass-market passenger vehicle segments in India. The Compass was its first locally manufactured Jeep model when launched in 2017 and it has brought life to what was almost a dead segment. Buoyed by the immense success of this model, the company has decided to launch two more locally manufactured models here, a mid-size SUV and a sub-4 metre SUV, by 2022.

Fiat Punto Evo rear three quarters at the launch — Moving forward, FCA will launch locally manufactured models under only the Jeep brand, which has received immense success right from the initial stage.

Also Read: Fiat Fastback concept unveiled at Sao Paulo Motor Show 2018

Until 2020 or 2021, the Jeep Compass will contribute to most of FCA’s sales in India. Last year, while Fiat sales declined by a staggering 72.5% to 743 units, Jeep sales grew by 39.2% to 18,287 units.

[Source: moneycontrol.com]