Fiat realigns Jeep launch in India

The much-awaited C segment SUV which will be under the Jeep brand will get launched in 2016

Struggling Italian company Fiat has said that it will debut the Jeep line of products in India only by 2015 which means a delay of almost two years as the premium US brands were initially slated for launch in 2013.

In all the Fiat-Chrysler combine will launch two brands which will see 12 major product actions till 2018.

The D segment sports utility vehicle Wrangler will be launched in 2015 and so will be the E segment SUV Grand Cherokee. A presentation by Mike Manley, chief operating officer of Fiat Chrysler Asia Pacific was made to the stake holders of Fiat outlining the plans of the Italian company.

The much-awaited C segment SUV (probably the Renegade SUV) which will be under the Jeep brand will get launched in 2016. While the Wrangler will come to India as an import the Grand Cherokee will be locally made. Variants of both the models will be seen in 2017-18. Also a new Abarth Punto will be launched next year.

While the Avventura is slated for launch later this year under the fiat brand an all-new Punto and the Grand Siena will be introduced in 2017.

Fiat's joint venture plant in Ranjangaon near Pune will also see increased activity. The plant which presently produces three models, one platform, three engines and one transmission will end up producing six models, three platforms, six engines and three transmissions.

The vehicle production capacity is also slated to go up. From 135,000 units the plant's capacity will be hiked to 245,000 units per annum. From 64% utilisation the company plans to achieve 155% utilisation levels.

Further the headcount will be increased to 5000 employees from 2250 employees at present.