Fiat to launch crossover next year

Italian car brand Fiat is gearing up to launch a crossover in India under its own brand next year even as it continues to expand its reach more than a year after it broke the distribution alliance with Tata Motors.

The new crossover and fully imported models of the Jeep brand will augment Fiat's product line-up which has shrunk to just two currently. The crossover will be first of its kind model launch by the Italian company in India. At present, it sells the Punto premium hatchback and the Linea sedan.

"While the Jeep models will be launched next year we will also surprise the market with a crossover", confirmed a source from the company.

But unlike the two completely built units (imported) of the Jeep the crossover will be locally made at the Ranjangaon facility, jointly owned by Fiat and Tata Motors.

The model will be a mix of a hatchback and a sport utility vehicle. It will have a 'considerable' local content and will likely sport the same compact diesel engine that powers the Punto. Tata's multi-seater Aria is the only crossover on sale in India presently.

Since April this year, when Fiat went completely independent of Tata Motors, the company has rapidly expanded its dealer count. It is confident of achieving the target of 100 dealers by end of December or three months before its earlier set target of March.

Fiat is trying to spruce up its image and improve sales through new launches, expanded sales network and finance tie-ups. Over the next four years, Fiat will launch as many as 12 models, including five brand-new products. The rest will be "refreshes" and upgrades of existing and new models.  

Fiat had initially planned to launch the Jeep brand in India in September this year. However, rupee depreciation and adverse market conditions dissuaded the company against it. The company intends to bring the Jeep Cherokee and the Jeep Wrangler into the local markets.   

Despite the sluggish conditions in the market, where passenger vehicles sales declined by nearly five per cent, during the April-October period, Fiat posted a growth of nearly 15 per cent during the same period posting sales of 6,015 units.

Besides the Jeep imports, Fiat will launch three compact SUVs, two of which will be under the Jeep brand. New models of the Punto and the Linea will also be introduced next year.