FIAT India opens new showroom in Delhi in push to increase market share

Keen to improve on its share of the Indian car market that currently stands at around one percent, FIAT Chrysler India inaugurated its seventh showroom in the National Capital Region in partnership with Thrust Motors at Shivaji Marg in New Delhi today.

FIAT Chrysler India's president and head of operations Nagesh Basavanhalli was present at the inauguration along with Harjeet Singh Chadda. director of Thrust Motors Pvt. Ltd. at the inauguration where the former was asked about the group's plans of expansion in India.

"Our plans are to double our market share every year," Basavanhalli said to a group of reporters at the new dealership. "As part of the expansion plan, we plan to launch nine models, a combination of refreshed and new models, in the next three years."

Basavanahalli also admitted to problems with after sales service that have plagued FIAT since it started to do business in India and stated that the company had invested heavily in training its personnel. He also stated that FIAT was taking steps to ensure that spare parts required for its range of models reach any one of its 70 existing dealerships within "72 to 86 hours" from its plant in Chakan, Maharashtra.

Chadda, who also has dealerships with Volkswagen and Suzuki, said that due to FIAT's ambition to increase its meagre market share, teaming up with the auto major made sense as there would be a potential for growth as compared to more established car companies.