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Manu P. Toms

Mumbai, July 19 Fiat is planning to enter the commercial vehicle segment in India. Fiat Professional, with its wide range of light commercial vehicles, wants to replicate its success in South American automotive market in India.

“This is a strong business of Fiat. We are studying the Indian market. We will have our commercial vehicle team here,” said Mr Silverio Bonifiglioli, Chief Operating Officer, Fiat International.

Fiat’s light commercial vehicles enjoy a fair market share in Europe and South Africa. Fiat currently enjoys 25 per cent market share in Brazil, followed by 11 per cent market share in Argentina. As part of its global expansion strategy, the company is focussing on emerging automotive powers, especially Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) nations.

“We are investing in BRIC countries. We believe there are opportunities in these countries. In Latin America, we are the leaders in commercial vehicles,” Mr Bonifiglioli said.

“We want to grow with India. We are investing in India because we believe that India will grow,” he said. He indicated that the company may adopt alternative fuel technology to penetrate into the Indian light commercial vehicles market. “We have ethanol and CNG technologies. If the country is ready we have the technology,” he said.

Fiat officials made it clear that it is the light commercial vehicle division of Fiat Automobile which is contemplating an Indian entry and it has nothing to do with the plans of Iveco — the truck makers, a subsidiary of Fiat group. “Iveco has its own plans and we cannot comment on that,” said Mr Marco Napodano, Head, Commercial, Fiat India.

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