Fiat Group India has officially announced to take its exclusive dealership count to 100 before the end of 2013. The auto maker has planned a target of establishing 70 units till March 2013. Reportedly, in the first phase of its dealership expansion programme, the company is looking ahead to expand presence in metropolitans and tier-1 cities.
On the sidelines of Fiat’s exclusive dealership’s inauguration at Delhi NCR, the Managing Director of Fiat Group Automobiles Private Limited, Enrico Atanasio said, “We will open 100 exclusive dealerships by the end of 2013. We have already signed agreements for top 35 cities in terms of market across India.” He further added, “The target of 70 exclusive dealerships would be completed by March this year.”
Reportedly, in the second phase, the Italian auto maker will target tier 2 and 3 cities for expansion. The next inaugurations will be carried in Chennai, Thane, Mumbai and Bengaluru, among others. Being a part of expansion plan, the company is also planning to launch Punto Abarth in the third quarter of 2013. Punto Abarth happens to be a sporty racy version, which will be priced somewhere around Rs 8 lakhs. Following its launch, the auto maker is planning to introduce Grand Cherokee and Fiat-Chrysler's Jeep Wrangler in the fourth quarter.
Presently, the auto maker has only two models in its Indian product portfolio, namely Punto and Linea. Owing to this, the company operates with a minute 0.5 per cent market share in the Indian auto market. Interestingly, Fiat happens to be one of the oldest overseas brands operating in the country as it forayed somewhere in early 1950s. Initially, the auto company maintained a partnership with Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), which was then shifted with Premier Automobiles. Fiat Group also had a joint venture with Tata Motors in India, which somehow ended in 2012.
