Fiat India identifies 72 dealerships from targeted 110 for 2013

Bangalore, March 4, 2013: Fiat Group Automobiles India Pvt Ltd (FGAIPL), the fully owned subsidiary of Italian carmaker Fiat, says it has thus far signed agreements with 72 entrepreneurs to set up new dealerships across the country.

After inaugurating the company’s 25th dealership, Vector Motors in Bangalore, on March 2, Enrico Atanasio, managing director of FGAIPL, told Autocar Professional that the company has targeted to set up 110 dealerships by the end of 2013. Another dealership, Aadya Motors in Bangalore, was also inaugurated on the same day. Both dealerships are spread across 16,000 square feet each and come with showroom and service facilities.

“We have already signed agreements to set up 72 outlets while negotiating to identify other potential dealerships.” Currently, Atanasio said, the signed entrepreneurs are in the process of opening their vehicle showrooms. The company will have 60 dealerships across the country by March 2013 and will add another 50 by end-2013 to take the total number of outlets to 110 across 67 cities.

He added that the company is looking to launch new models in 2014. With more models coming in, he said the company plans to have around 150-170 dealerships in the next three years.

Ravi Bhatia, vice-president, network development, FGAIPL, said the company will have a presence in 126 cities by 2014 with 150 dealerships and 39 standalone service centres. With all dealerships having both sales and service, he said the company’s service network will be expanded to 126 cities.

In May 2012, hit by poor sales and only 0.6 percent of the domestic car market, Fiat ended its distribution and commercial alliance with Tata Motors, six years after it has began selling its cars through Tata dealers. Starting from April 1, 2013, Fiat cars (the Punto hatchback and Linea saloon) will be available only in its exclusive showrooms. According to Atanasio, the company’s aim is to regain the one percent market share it once had in India in the current year.

Photograph (L-R): Premanand Shenoy, MD, Vecto Motors; Enrico Atanasio, MD, FGAIPL; Nagesh Basavanahalli, MD, Chrysler India Automotive; and Ravi Bhatia, VP, network development, FGAIPL, at the newly inaugurated Fiat showroom in Bangalore.

JAISHANKAR JAYARAMIAH