Fiat has a comparatively little success in India

The Italian carmaker Fiat has a comparatively little success in India while other global car makers are increasing their presence. Now it has been reported in The Economic Times that the company plans to add heft to its diminutive presence in the Indian market by leaning on Chrysler, the US automaker in which it acquired a majority stake three years ago, as well as by launching a few of its own premium brands such as Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

According to the report, a team of senior officials from Chrysler recently visited India to conduct product clinics for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, an SUV in a price segment similar to that of Toyota's Fortuner, Ssangyong's Rexton and Chevrolet's Captiva. It was reported that quoting a person close to the development, a blueprint is being created to increase Fiat's presence in India with new models and, if these plans fructify, the new launches will be outside the 50:50 joint venture Fiat has with Tata Motors to make cars for the two companies as well as transmissions and engines.

It was reported that the Chrysler model will be brought into the country in completely-knocked-down (CKD) condition and assembled at the Tata-Fiat manufacturing operations in Ranjangaon, near Pune, on contract, the Fiat brands will be brought in via the CBU (completely built unit) route. The report stated that Fiat India CEO Rajeev Kapoor said "I have no comments to make on this." Reportedly Chrysler has big plans for emerging markets, and India is at the core of that strategy, according to the report.Automobile News