The legendary Jeep brand from
Fiat Chrylser stable was introduced to India at the 2016 Auto Expo in New
Delhi. With a line-up of three SUVs – Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Grand
Cherokee and the high-performance Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT – Jeep brand sales in
India will start in mid-2016, a year that also marks the brand’s 75th
anniversary.
“Our aggressive expansion in
international markets is one of the key drivers behind our current global sales
momentum,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand, FCA, and Chief Operating
Officer (COO) of the Asia Pacific (APAC) Regional Operations Group. “Last year,
we started local production in Brazil and China, and today, we are launching
the Jeep brand in the fifth largest market in the world, India, setting the
foundation for our future growth in this country,” he added.
The Jeep brand arrives in
India at a time of record sales and continued expansion into markets outside
its North American home. Jeep recorded sales of more than 1.2 million units
worldwide in 2015 – the highest total in its 75-year history – setting a global
sales record for the fourth consecutive year.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
(FCA) announced last year its intent to invest approximately $280 million in
its manufacturing joint venture, Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited, with
Tata Motors Limited. The investment in the manufacturing facility in
Ranjangaon, India, will support the production of a new Jeep vehicle and is
expected to begin production in 2017.
“Jeep has been one of the most
awaited SUV brands in India and it is entering this important market the same
year that it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The SUV segment witnessed a robust growth of 22 percent over the last
five years in India and we expect it to grow exponentially in the future,
creating the perfect environment for the legendary Jeep brand” said Kevin
Flynn, President and Managing Director, FCA India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd.
“The Jeep line-up, including
the ruggedly stylish Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the mighty Jeep Grand Cherokee
and the furiously fast Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, will be initially brought to
Indian shores via the complete built up (CBU) route,” he added, stating that, “Starting
today, it will be our constant effort to leverage Jeep’s global leadership
position as a brand and full product line-up here in India and local assembly
of an all-new Jeep vehicle will commence at our Ranjangaon plant in 2017.”
Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand
Cherokee will be sold with diesel and petrol engines through a network of
dealers located in key metro cities.
Source: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles