Fiat increases spare parts stock across dealerships

Fiat Group Automobiles India (FGAIL) is stocking up on spare parts in all its dealerships across the country. Adequate stock will help the company provide better, more efficient customer service, the carmaker believes. This move comes after FGAIPL received customer feedback about the availability of spare parts, after it cut ties with its marketing partner, Tata Motors, last year.

According to Nagesh Basavanhalli, president and managing director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India, the company ensures that each dealership stocks around 300 fast-moving spare parts that are required for servicing Fiat cars in India. Currently, FGAIPL has 108 dealerships in 81 cities spread across 22 states in the country.  The company is looking to expand its dealerships to 500 by December this year.

With 300 fast-moving spare parts, around 75-80 percent of service requirements can be met by a dealership. Parts, not included in fast-moving parts, will be sourced from the company’s spare parts warehouse in Chakan, near Pune, Fiat’s largest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Basavanhalli said. the company plans to roll out four new cars this year. While the new, face-lifted Linea was launched earlier this week, the Avventura, Abarth 500 and new Punto will be launched before December 2014. While the Avventura, an off-road, semi-rugged crossover based on the Punto's platform, will be manufactured in India with local content of around 85 percent, the Fiat 500 Abarth will be imported as a Completely Built Unit (CBU), at least initially.

The Avventura will also be exported to the overseas markets from India. However, Basavanhalli declined to give a time frame for commencing of exports. The company will first concentrate on fulfilling local demand for the Avventura which received an overwhelming response at the Auto Expo, he said.

On March 4, FGAIPL launched the face-lifted Linea at a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). First shown in India, again at the Expo, the 2014 Fiat Linea gets a few minor but effective exterior styling tweaks and a thoroughly revised interior.