If the chaps from TopGear India are to be believed, Fiat India is getting ready to introduce the iconic Jeep brand in the Indian market. The Italian automaker is expected to announce formal plans in the following weeks.
The on and off rumors about Jeep coming to India are around since mid-2012 when Fiat India sent out a few press releases with a Chrysler logo on it. The Jeep brand is owned by Chrysler which in turn is owned by Fiat.
In fact our good mates at Motorbeam are also reporting the same information claiming Fiat-Chrysler’s COO of Asia Pacific Region, Michael Manley will address a press conference so there must be some substance to these claims.
Fiat India will announce an India-specific plan next month which will contain all the details of Fiat India’s future for the next year.
Coming back to the Jeep brand, the decision to introduce this SUV-specific brand was taken in mind to satisfy Indian consumers appetite for SUVs. Recent jump in demand for diesel SUVs in India is something almost every manufacturer is capitalizing on.
Jeep has five models in its stable – Patriot, Compass, Liberty, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. In all probability, Fiat India will start the Jeep operations with brand builders such as Grand Cherokee and Wrangler (that looks like a spruced-up Mahindra Thar). Initially, we believe that both models will be CBU operations until the brand is successful in India. Soon we could see more mainstream models such as the Patriot reaching dealerships.
We will definitely be a part of this ‘Fiat India plan’ announcement. So stay tuned and start saving for your Jeep today!
[Source: Topgear.com & Motorbeam.com]
Fiat could become a SUV king as it has Freemount too with a diesel. And every product is as good as the best can be.
Superb news. This is can be a game changer for Fiat really. Stunning looker and a legendary global vehicle.
So we can expect few more bunny toothed vehicles soon
What you have typed is wrong. “Wrangler (that looks like a spruced-up Mahindra Thar)”
Mahindra is the one who copied the Jeep brand.
Yes, we acknowledge that the Wrangler is the original. The Thar came only a couple of years ago.
Well not copied..Mahindra bought the rights to manufacture Jeeps in India by using Mahindra’s name…
Jeep was started as a collabortion initially, once the expiry of the MOU Mahindra continued with the production but could not use the brand name.