Italian automaker, Fiat, is having plans for multiple launches in India but the company is apprehensive about the small car segment in India. Though the initial acceptance and craze for the world's cheapest car Tata Nano was very high, it died down soon after and this kept Fiat thinking on the lines that a cheap small car may not find many takers in the nation.
Fiat is looking at at least nine models of which one would be Abrath, the sports car and the Wrangler jeep (which comes with four variants). The company however, is delaying plans for a small car which were announced earlier but has not crossed the planning stage. The MD of Fiat India, Enrico Atanasio mentions that the budget entry-level cars would begin at Rs 5 lakhs to quote the least.
He said a “poor” car is not what Indian market prefers. Premier Padmini will not be a success again if it is launched today. The Fiat Punto hatch back which is the most sold in their range starts over Rs 7.6 lakhs.
Though the scenario in the world is changing with respect to cars after families are cutting down the number of cars due to the economic meltdown. China has stopped purchasing more cars to a great extent unlike a few years ago when people upgraded to bigger cars and now India has reached that phase where people start buying bigger cars, he said.
Which car would you prefer, a roomy sedan or a economic hatchback?
(AW- Anil)
