With promising upcoming offerings like the Jeep Compass, FCA’s future is far from bleak. And while the limited range of products on sale might not make Fiat’s the most complete line-up on the market, but the company has yet again managed to surprise. In order to ensure that its customers (both existing and prospective), the conglomerate has announced a price drop for most Fiat products on sale; that’s the exact opposite of what the competition is doing.
So essentially Fiat has decided to absorb the increased input costs, and on top of that, include a revised/lowered pricing by up to seven per cent. The Linea range, for instance, now starts at Rs 7.25 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). That’s almost 80,000 off on the top-spec version.
Prices of the Abarth Punto and the recent Urban Cross have not been changed, but the Punto Evo and the Avventura are less expensive by up to Rs 47,365 and Rs 64,609 respectively.
But what about the existing customers?
Well, you would be glad to know that the spare part availability has been doubled, and the company is also offering online purchase and home delivery of parts.
About 500 service camps were organised last year, and FCA plans to take it further this year. There will also be new dealerships, Destination Stores, as well as Jeep-exclusive dealers by the end of 2017.
Any new launches?
Although both the Linea and Punto are good products (more so in the Abarth flavour), let’s not expect Fiat to release more derivatives there. But what excites us is that the Jeep Compass will be launched this year. And not only the India-made Jeep be exported to other markets, it will also be devoid of (unnecessary) import duties.
And if the recent pricing strategy is anything to go by, expect it to be good package. Even for the price-conscious buyer.
