Fiat plans to double its workforce in India by 2018 and increase capacity utilisation at the Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, plant as part of its efforts to make inroads in the small-car market. The automaker will boost its workforce to more than 5,000 workers, reports the Economic Times. Under the plan, the Fiat brand will launch the Avventura crossover as a new model, in addition to refreshed/replacement versions of the Grande Punto hatchback and Linea sedan. The group hopes to benefit from the introduction of the Jeep brand in 2015, as well as from the 12 product actions it plans during this time frame. Under the Jeep brand, the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and an as-yet unnamed C-segment sport utility vehicle (SUV) will make their debuts in the Indian market starting from 2015.
Significance: Fiat has charted aggressive growth plans in India to complement Fiat Chrysler's global five-year plan, which is also a somewhat over-ambitious manifesto for its strong but limited and fragmented line-up. Fiat was not able to execute on its earlier plan revealed in April 2013 after severing marketing ties with Tata Motors. The company has embarked on expanding its Indian dealership network from 100 in 2013 to 220 in 2018. However, the upside for Fiat and Jeep models will remain constrained due to a limited product line-up that primarily revolves around just four Fiat nameplates and Jeep SUVs, which are unlikely to compete in the mass-volume segments. IHS Automotive forecasts combined Indian sales of 30,000 units for Fiat- and Jeep-brand vehicles during 2018, against the company's target of 130,000 units.
