Stellantis, the world’s third largest carmaker by quantity, is contemplating re-introducing Fiat and a clutch of different marquee manufacturers together with the Alfa Romeo into the Indian market whilst its rapid precedence is to firmly set up Jeep and Citroen manufacturers. Citroen will launch the C3 Aircross SUV in October adopted by one other mannequin early subsequent 12 months on the C-cubed platform. Billy Hayes, senior vice chairman India and Asia Pacific Area, Stellantis, mentioned that whereas launching new fashions from Jeep and Citroen will prime the corporate’s agenda different manufacturers are additionally into account.“There’s nonetheless plenty of love for Fiat and we’re nonetheless supporting Fiat prospects. It’s not simply Fiat, we’re contemplating different manufacturers akin to Alfa Romeo concurrently. Whereas Jeep and Citroen prime our precedence, discussions by no means cease round different manufacturers. We have to determine what’s most acceptable for this market because it evolves,” Hayes informed ET. Whereas there aren’t any agency plans, questions on how Fiat would match into the market, and the way it ought to be re-launched usually floor throughout discussions, he added.
The erstwhile Fiat Chrysler Vehicle India (because it was known as earlier than it turned a part of Stellantis in 2021) stopped making Fiat vehicles in India amid low gross sales and rising competitors from the rival manufacturers. Globally, Fiat which is one among the many 14 manufacturers overseen by Stellantis outsold all of them within the first half of the present calendar 12 months with 645,000 vehicles globally, a ten% enhance year-on-year. It now has half of its gross sales coming from exterior Europe. The electrical Fiat 500 is the No.1 promoting hatch within the A-segment, mentioned Hayes, including that the mannequin has been extraordinarily profitable in Japan and can now be launched in Australia.
For now, there’s lots driving on the Aircross for Citroen’s India innings.
It is getting into India’s mid-size SUV market with the mannequin later this month. A late entrant into the competetive automobile market, Stellantis expects the Aircross which can rival the Hyundai Creta, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos amongst different fashions, to be a springboard for its India operations and provides a halo to all its present fashions right here.
Citroen will announce the costs of the Aircross in September and begin deliveries in October. Positioned as an SUV that’s “powerful from exterior and caring inside” the French carmaker is seeking to make a dent in a section that has emerged as a candy spot for many automobile makers in India.
Citroen expects the midsize SUV market in India to leap from 366,000 models to 612,000 models by the top of this decade, mentioned Saurabh Vatsa, model head- Citroen India. Even because the Aircross is a late entrant within the section, its class main and segment-first options—be it the imposing entrance type, high-ground clearance or 5 and 7 seating configurations, will maintain it in good stead, claims Vatsa.
