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Paul Noronha

India tour: Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, and Mr John Elkann, Vice-Chairman, Fiat Group, at the flag-off of the Ferrari Magic India Discovery Drive in Mumbai on Monday. —

Our Bureau

Mumbai, Feb. 25 Fiat is looking at the prospect of launching its premium car brand Ferrari in India, said Mr Davide Kluzer, head of press office for Ferrari. “In three to five years’ time Ferrari will come to India. We are carefully looking at the Indian market. We feel anxious to be here,” Mr Kluzer said.

He was speaking at a press conference in connection with the flag-off of the 74-day Ferrari Magic India Discovery drive at Mumbai on Monday. Two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis, one Fiat Bravo, one Fiat 500, one specially fitted Iveco truck, and five Tata Motors’ vehicles will feature in the India tour covering 13,000 km and 57 cities.

“During this tour, we will understand the technological challenges we are going to face in India and we will collect experience from here,” Mr Kluzer said.

The entry to the Indian market is mainly aimed at ensuring speed delivery of vehicles to the customers, according to Mr Kluzer. “Our aim is not to dramatically increase our volume. Our goal is to provide cars according to market requirements. We don’t want our customers to wait long,” he said.

Currently, the vehicles are directly shipped from Italy by the buyers in India. Ferrari’s initial plan is to open showrooms in the country. When asked if the vehicles will be sold through the existing Fiat and Tata dealer networks, he said it is too early to say anything about it. “We want to be here. How and when is a question,” he said.

Later, the Tata Group Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata, and the Fiat Group Vice-Chairman, Mr John Elkann, flagged off the tour.

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