Fiat India ups spare parts stock in 81 cities

Fiat Group Automobiles India Pvt Ltd (FGAIPL) says it has taken steps to stock adequate spare parts at its dealerships across the country to facilitate quick service to its customers.

According to Nagesh Basavanhalli, president and managing director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India, the company ensures that each dealership stocks around 300 fast-moving spare parts that are required for servicing Fiat cars in India. The company’s swift action comes in the wake of customer feedback for increased parts availability and affordability after FGAIPL severed its marketing tie-up with Tata Motors last year, he said.

Currently, FGAIPL has 108 dealerships in 81 cities spread across 22 states in the country. The sales network is to be expanded to 500 by December 2014. With 300 fast-moving spare parts, around 75-80 percent of service requirements can be met by a dealership. Parts, which are not in this lot, will be sourced from the company’s parts warehouse in Chakan, near Pune, Fiat’s largest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Basavanhalli said the company plans to roll out four new cars this year. While the new, face-lifted Linea was launched earlier this week, the Avventura, Abarth 500 and new Punto will be launched before December 2014.

While the Avventura, an off-road, semi-rugged crossover based on the Punto's platform, will be manufactured in India with a local content of around 85 percent, the Fiat 500 Abarth will be imported as a Completely Built Unit (CBU), at least initially. The Avventura will also be exported to overseas markets from India. However, Basavanhalli declined to give a time frame for commencing of exports and said the company first wants to fulfill the local demand for the Avventura, which received an overwhelming response when it was showcased at the Auto Expo, along with the Abarth.

On March 4, FGAIPL launched the a face-lifted Linea at a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). First shown in India at the Auto Expo, the 2014 Fiat Linea gets a few minor but effective exterior styling tweaks and a thoroughly revised interior.

Photograph: Nagesh Basavanhalli with the new Linea.