Fiat India, which has seen a slide in its sales during the last nine months of 2011, has launched the new 2012 model year variants of the Linea and the Punto. The new variants are loaded with more features and have been priced in the Rs 4.8 lakh to Rs 9.2 lakh range. Fiat India expects these models to shore up its sales during the coming months, even as it mulls over its plans for the next few years.
Fiat's sales during the eight months ended November 2011 was down over 30 per cent, a slide that is much more than the industry average. To improve reach and strengthen its brand image, the company is also setting up more independent showrooms and brand outlets. The first of these is coming up in Delhi, but plans have been laid for 20 to 25 more independent dealer outlets.
Buyer feedback
Stressing on the customer-centric approach that the company takes, Mr Rajeev Kapoor, President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles said that the changes that have been incorporated into the new 2012 models have been driven by the feedback received from buyers. He was interacting with the media at a launch conference here on Monday.
One of the key feedback-driven changes includes raising the ground clearance to 190mm to ensure that the cars navigate better on Indian road conditions. The other changes that are also meant to offer more comfort and convenience to users include the automatic headlamps and the rain-sensing wipers. The 2012 variants also get a new interior colour theme and one additional exterior paint finish.
To woo buyers, Fiat is also offering more value in its cars starting from the base variant, which will now feature an integrated audio system in both the Punto and the Linea. Improvements have also been incorporated in the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) packaging for the cars to make the cabin quieter. Both the Punto and the Linea will continue to be available with the same - 1.3 Multijet diesel, the 1.4 Fire Petrol and the 1.2 Fire Petrol (Punto) - engines. Fiat has clarified that the prices are a special introductory period price.
Even as it sets up its own dealership network, Fiat India is also finalising a deal to supply its diesel engine to Maruti Suzuki, which will enable the former to better leverage the capacity at its engine plant. Currently, Maruti Suzuki's Swift and the DZire use the same basic diesel engine and the cars have a long waiting period due to lower supply of the engine from its joint venture company Suzuki Powertrain Ltd.