Can FIAT Re-Establish Itself in India?

[jayadev]

So, I am just wondering if this will turn out to be a bad decision in the long run if (god forbid) Fiat thinks it is enough.you know?
Please help! Thanks in advance!

Fiat is going to stay.
If not Fiat who is going to supply legendary multijet engines to Tata and Maruthi?
Sales of Ford and Chevrolet has also encountered such downs but they returned with cheaper Cars which fiat has not yet but they have plans.

 

[THE XOVER]

I think FIAT have got it all wrong , in terms of pricing , positioning and specing their cars.
ENGINES: we all know that fiat have got amazing diesel engines, but they went ahead and launched LINEA with 1.3 lt engine, really?And what was result people found linea to be underpowered, had they launched 1.6 lt multijet from word go and priced and positioned linea against Verna rather than dezire they could have sold a million lineas till now,still i say its not too late Fiat please bring 1.6 jtd in linea as quickly as possible and trust me you are back in the game big time.

Now lets talk about Punto, this is the best hatchback (apart from space) that money can buy, but fiat again goof up the whole situation by not putting 90 hp multijet in all trims, and they put old palio gearbox in punto which is the only drawback in a great car, if fiat puts linea gearbox with better tuning and price it a little closer to Vista still it will sell like hot cakes.

All Signors at FIAT are you listening.

 

[350Z]

Hello All, Just need an opinion from you all knowledgeable folks out there. I am about to book Punto 1.3 MJD tomorrow(6-Oct-11).
I have read most of the info/reviews on this forum and that has certainly helped me make this decision apart from my own test drive.
Now, the only thing that is lingering on my mind is about "FIAT in India". I have read about Fiat planning to setup its own stores and all. But I hope these are not last ditch efforts to sustain operations in India(I read about export to Srilanka also.). So, I am just wondering if this will turn out to be a bad decision in the long run if (god forbid) Fiat thinks it is enough.you know? Please help! Thanks in advance!

Welcome to The Automotive India! Fiat is not going to give up so early. They have invested a fair amount of funds in the Indian Market. Also, they have some fantastic products in their hands, but as soon as they are able to find the actual root cause of their dwindling sales, I’m sure the scenario is expected to improve. But for now, after sales service will remain a primary concern and even if Fiat decides to set up exclusive after sales and dealerships, they will need some to time to cope up in order to spread and achieve a sufficient amount of network.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[basis]

I think FIAT have got it all wrong , in terms of pricing , positioning and specing their cars.
ENGINES: we all know that fiat have got amazing diesel engines, but they went ahead and launched LINEA with 1.3 lt engine, really?And what was result people found linea to be underpowered, had they launched 1.6 lt multijet from word go and priced and positioned linea against Verna rather than dezire they could have sold a million lineas till now,still i say its not too late Fiat please bring 1.6 jtd in linea as quickly as possible and trust me you are back in the game big time.

Now lets talk about Punto, this is the best hatchback (apart from space) that money can buy, but fiat again goof up the whole situation by not putting 90 hp multijet in all trims, and they put old palio gearbox in punto which is the only drawback in a great car, if fiat puts linea gearbox with better tuning and price it a little closer to Vista still it will sell like hot cakes.

All Signors at FIAT are you listening.

Very much right.

except that space is not a issue in Punto. IMO

 

[THE XOVER]

Very much right.

except that space is not a issue in Punto. IMO

Actually space is not a major issue in Indian market (just look at dezire swift etc) and not that FIAT cars are cramped, but their biggest problem is lack of trust among Indian masses on Fiat brand.

BTW: What I meant that Punto is the best hatchback overall( RIDE+HANDLING+decent space+looks), and though it is not cramped but at the same time forget PUNTO, no hatchback is as spacious as Vista ,so punto can not be called the most spacious car IMO,though overall it can be called thebest hatchback around.
hope it clears all doubts

 

[asifs454]

Actually space is not a major issue in Indian market (just look at dezire swift etc) and not that FIAT cars are cramped, but their biggest problem is lack of trust among Indian masses on Fiat brand.

BTW: What I meant that Punto is the best hatchback overall( RIDE+HANDLING+decent space+looks), and though it is not cramped but at the same time forget PUNTO, no hatchback is as spacious as Vista ,so punto can not be called the most spacious car IMO,though overall it can be called thebest hatchback around.
hope it clears all doubts

Rightly said,what fiat has to do now is to build up the trust among the Indians about their great cars.A person near my house used to say always that fiat is not a good car to buy.the worst part is that he hadnt driven or travelled in a fiat car.But last week he has gone for a long drive with his friend on his new linea.After that he is a hard core fan of fiat cars and he himself is planning to buy a linea now.Also fiat customer care has improved a lot from my personal experience.Driving experience of fiat is always special.

 

[jayadev]

To comment about Fiat is equal to "bhains ke aage been bajana" or talking to a rock.

I believe fiat can reinstate in Indian market if they change the present models to something new or something different. they have to forget those sad/dull looking face of punto, linea to more smarter and pleasant looking one. India is too much sensitive towards such things.

I have seen more number of people hate looks of punto and linea than number of people like it (almost 80% hate) ,even I myself too dint like the Punto nor Linea initially .

anyway these things are never going to workout for a brand who could not launch a new model past 4 years so let us leave it.

 

[JazzSelect]

@Jayadev
I respectful disagree to your opinion about Punto and Linea look. This is (look) best aspect in FIAT products. Punto is originally designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro (designer of the century). IMO, 99% peoples who like the Punto/Linea look/Exterior and why these products called head turner? Main problem of FIAT is A.S.S. Desperately need to develop own service network or at least manage separate FIAT staff at TATA-FIAT. At this stage its really difficult to establish with past image. I really admire by Nissan how they start developing their own service network.

OT - Wake up FIAT your website gets hacked (one page) from yesterday.

 

[Thetraveller]

Somehow Fiat has this step-son approach towards Indian market. They have prepared one of the best products but somehow have lost interest in presenting it better and maintaining it better. On the top of it, most of Indian market is sentiment driven and not driven by facts. That goes for everything and not just buying an automobile. People generally pick up cars depending on the suggestion of their peers or what their neighbours have got.
I have this feeling that this will change surely but it will take time. Till then Fiat needs to do some serious brand re-building.

And to all those who say Fiat is bad, well you better drive one and then come back!!

 

[Umang]

well i fully agree with @thetraveller and @jazzselect! theres no problem in fiat cars looks..they are best among most segment cars but fiat brand lacks trust! fiat need to do brand building but somebody tell them launching car like 500 wont build brand for them!!

 

[Surfer]

Future of FIAT in india, Fiat India sales hit rockbottom?

622 cars is all Fiat India could manage to sell in all of October, 2011, continuing the downward spiral of the Italian automaker in the Indian market. These abysmal sales figures come on the back of Fiat India promoting its cars quite aggressively through a discount scheme that made both the Fiat Linea Sedan and the Grande Punto Hatchbacks very attractive buys. Despite all this, sales have dropped to an all time low of 622 units, nearly a 25% drop from the month of September 2011 and a mammoth 70% fall from last October.

Source: icb

What do you think?

@Mods: please merge thread if already exists - searched but not able to find any.

 

[Vishwas]

Re: Future of FIAT in india, Fiat India sales hit rockbottom?

Well its A.S.S have kept away the buyers,so the company should open their own centers,yes i know i costs a bomb initially,but if they have to survive in Indian market which is now seeing more cars in this segment,their only way to win customers is through this method,else merge with other companies.

 

[jayadev]

Re: Future of FIAT in india, Fiat India sales hit rockbottom?

I dont think anything surprising in it. they are clearing out stock as of now. with 300 puntos in plant storage so next month we can expect lesser figures.

I think thread starter is not aware of fresh launches from Fiat by the beginning of 2012.

with present sales one can benefit maximum discounts to own a brand new Fiat car.

 

[smooth rider]

Re: Future of FIAT in india, Fiat India sales hit rockbottom?

jaydev is fiat planning to discontinue punto and linea ? are the new launches in the same segment as punto and linea?

 

[jayadev]

Re: Future of FIAT in india, Fiat India sales hit rockbottom?

I think it is face-lift. with fresh interiors and additional tweaks nothing is sure as of now.

let us hope they will reveal it in auto expo 2012.