Gujarat seems to have become a growth driver for the Italian car maker, Fiat. To the company’s credit is the recent bulk order by a Surat-based diamond trader, who gifted Fiat Punto Evo to his 491 employees as Diwali Bonanza.

 

However, this was just an addition to company’s ongoing growth journey in Gujarat, maintained Nagesh Basavanhalli, president and MD, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles - India Operations. The company’s car sales have grown manifold over the past couple of years.

 

Senior company officials maintained that car sales have grown by three-times from an average about 50 cars (all segments) per month two years ago to about 145 cars per month now. Company claimed that Gujarat’s contribution to India’s total automobile sales is about 9 per cent, while for Fiat, the state contributes about 11 per cent to the total sales. The company has seven outlets in the state at present.

 

Basavanhalli was in the town to launch company’s latest model, Avventura – Contemporary Urban Vehicle (CUV) in Gujarat market.

 

“In just 10 days of opening the booking, we have received about 500 bookings for the car. There is a waiting period of about 3 weeks for delivery of the vehicle. The response to the new Fiat car is overwhelming and we look forward to healthy growth with this model,” said Basavanhalli. Avventura is priced at Rs 609,177 (ex showroom Ahmedabad).

 

According to him, the SUV segment has been growing at the faster pace than the overall automobile market.