Fiat India - Sales Thread

An article today in HT talks of declining Fiat sales while the auto industry in India booms. Problem is the article says nothing about the reasons why it's happening although HT does quote an annonymous auto industry analyst who says Fiat has a history of bungling in our market with excellent products. the usual service issues are quoted and how customers were told by the Tata ASC that the Linea's air conditioning unit has a design defect and that Tata can't do anything about it thus making the customer run from pillar to post.

I feel Accenture will do well to visit and go through forums like TFI and TBHP to understand why Fiat sales are on a downward slide.

I still say the big mistake Fiat made was to tune the cars the way they did. Indians believe a car that has zippy acceleration in first and second gears and in city speeds is a powerful car. That same car may run out of steam at 120kmph on our highways but nobody understands or cares for that.

Dealerships have to visibly show a different feel and expereince to customers of Fiat and Tata. You can't just claim that Fiat is more premium then Tata but not follow it up with a different expereince and for God's sake, give Fiat's more powerful engines, more features, better technology compared to Tata. You can't have a 90bhp Manza standing next to a 90bhp Punto. Do that and you will only have enthusiasts buy the Punto. Volume sales will be taken by Manza.

 

good observation Amit... Sad but true...

 

One Fiat official confirmed that there is no plan to launch Vista\Manza with more power.

 

Continuing on my constant hammering of the the VW-Audi showroom format for Tata-Fiat, it's worth mentioning that VW's and Audi's are distinguised engine and spec wise too, something that I have again been repeating again and again.

For example, the top end Jetta in US comes with the 2.0 TFSI engine. This is the engine in the base Audi A4.

Tata-Fiat could follow this. The top end Vista could have the 75bhp MJD while the Punto range should start with the 90bhp engine. Top end Emotion and Emotion PK should also be avaliable with the 1.6 MJD. Sure you may sell just 10 units every month but these models will be more of a showcase of your technology. In today's world 'haathi ke daath' are extremely important.

 

i think the exact problem with fiat India is representation of their products in the showrooms. in mumbai if you compare VW showrooms with fiat's you will find the difference. They should open one or two studio showrooms in cities like mumbai, delhi, banglore, pune, kolkata, etc.

 

Seems Fiat is trying for an alternative sales and distribution channel for Fiat cars. it shud have never JV with tata in first place. they are just milking Fiat and its technologies. anyway its never too late.
http://www.cartradeindia.com/car-bike-n ... 13061.html
i also think Fiat range shud start with 90 HP MJD. Fiat Punto Active 90 HP ( at 5.13 ex showroom, Delhi ) with improved interiors makes more sense.

 

Very rightly said Amit... Fiat should come up with some more variants like the VW polo and Vento.. they have the 1.6 already and Fiat inspite of having their own power terrain they are not passing it to the Indian Customers which is very sad...

 

I saw on linea website it is showing Dual Tone Dashboard on T-jet variants only. And Soft Touch dashboard column is now removed. I hope that soft-touch dash board now available with Emotion and Emotion Pk variants also. Does anybody have an idea about this. Please confirm the same.

 

YEa the New Tjet gets the dual tone color dashboard like the old ones with black and beige..

I didnt understand what u meant bu the soft touch dashboard... could you describe me what you meant by that...

 

if you see the image which is showing Soft touch dashboard. but now on the linea website it is removed. so I hope that this type of dash will be available in Emotions Variants also.