Fiat Linea T-Jet launched; priced at Rs 7.8 lakh

Mumbai: Italian car-maker Fiat on Monday rolled out three variants of its Linea T-Jet sedan in petrol version priced at Rs 7.87-9.11 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The mid-segment sedan Linea T-Jet was first launched in the domestic market in 2010. This is one of the fastest growing segments in the domestic auto market.

"We are optimistic about our growth prospects here. With the new Linea T-Jet, an expanding dealer network and more marketing initiatives, we will be in a strong position to capitalise on this growth," Fiat Chrysler India president and managing director Nagesh Basavanhalli said here.

Chrysler is the US unit of the Italian auto major Fiat.

Despite sounding bullish on the market, the company has a tepid volume target for the new model, planning to sell just 50 units a month to begin with.

The company aims to have its footprints in 110 cities through the dealership networks from the current 58 by March.

Fiat currently sells only two cars in the country -- the Punto and the Linea -- and has about 0.7 per cent market share in the domestic car market, though it has been one of the oldest foreign brands here having entered in the 1950s, first in association with the Mahindras and then with Premier Automobiles.

Last year, Fiat-Chrysler Asia Pacific COO, president and chief executive for jeep brand at the Chrysler Group Mike Manley had said the company plans to roll out nine products including some refreshed ones as well as its iconic brand Cherokee and Wrangler here over the next three years.

PTI