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Pune, Aug 12: Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd is evaluating the possibility of setting a full-fledged R&D centre at its Ranjangaon plant along with its JV partner Tata Motors. “Fiat has currently begun a small centre at the plant that does testing for the current models. But we are evaluating the possibility of setting up a bigger R&D centre along with our JV partners to address markets in Asia. Fiat sees the emerging markets as a great opportunity,” Rajeev Kapoor, president & CEO, Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd said.
“Currently when we want to do design, we go to the West. What Fiat wants to bring to India is more complex work and a distinctive shift from a tendency of know-how to know-why. We are looking at a people strength of 150 people at the centre in the next five years,” he said. Kapoor said the response to Cinquecento car- renamed as Fiat500 in India has been tremendous so far. The company aims to sell 100 units of this car in a year. “We are not looking at selling big numbers. Volumes will come from Palio diesel and Stile. We are currently doing 500 units a month.The diesel version was launched in March this year,” he said.
Fiat plans to bring its mid-sized sedan line Linea soon in the next couple of months followed by Brave at the year end and the Grande Punto early next year. “The Linea exports to the right-hand drive markets would begin in early 2009. The Turkey plant manufactures the Linea for the left-hand drive markets and the India plant would manufacture Linea for the right-hand drive markets,” he said.
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