Fiat may bring Chrysler brands to India

Italian auto maker Fiat, which has entered into a strategic alliance with Chrysler, may bring the famed models of the American car maker into India.     

The alliance with Fiat helped Chrysler to come out of bankruptcy protection last week.     

When asked whether the company would bring Chrysler brands to India, Fiat Group Chief Operating Officer (International Operations) Filverio Bonfiglioli said, "why not..."     

He was talking to reporters here today after the launch of Fiat's premium small car Grande Punto in both petrol and diesel variants in the Indian market.      However, Bonfiglioli did not give further details about bringing Chrysler into India.     

The major car brands of Chrysler are Avenger, Caliber, Challenger and Viper.     

In the trucks category, the well-known names from the Chrysler stable include Dakota and Sprinter.     

Chrysler also has significant presence in the mini vans section with brands like Nitro, Durango and Grand Caravan.     

Meanwhile, as part of the strategic alliance, Fiat would have a 20 per cent equity stake in Chrysler in return for providing technology to manufacture smaller cars.

The two firms have finalised a global strategic alliance to form a "new Chrysler that has the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale".     

Chrysler entered into bankruptcy in April after being bogged down by significant losses and plunging sales.     

Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne would also be the Chief of the new Chrysler.     

"Those Chrysler operations assumed by the new company that were idled during this process have or will soon be back up and running, and work is already underway on developing new environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, high-quality vehicles that we intend to become Chrysler's hallmark going forward," Marchionne said about the new Chrysler recently.