Fiat India inaugurates new dealership in Thane

Just two weeks back, Fiat India has officially announced that the company is aiming to set up 70 exclusive dealerships by March 2013 and aim to open 100 dealerships by the end of 2013, which is all a part of company's strategy to re-invent the Italian brand in the country, post it's breakup with Tata Motors in 2012. 

Staying on track, the Italian automaker today inaugurated it's sixth independent dealership in the heart of Thane city in Maharashtra. The dealership was inaugurated by Mr Enrico Atanasio, managing directors of Fiat Group Automobiles India Pvt Ltd. The new dealership covers 6,500 sq.ft of showroom space and 12,500 sq.ft of workshop space and will be managed by Balaji Autoworld. 

With the inauguration of the sixth exclusive dealership in India, there are 64 more dealerships that will spring up by March 2013. It is understood that Fiat India has already approved 61 letters of intent, which means 61 new dealerships are already a work in progress.

The tie-up that existed between Tata Motors and Fiat will officially come to an end in March 2013 and from April onward, Fiat customers will only be able to get their car services at an exclusive Fiat dealership. However, in some smaller cities, some of the Tata-Fiat co-branded service centers will continue to exist and service Fiat cars until December 2013 - by which time, the Italian automaker would have fully established its service network in India. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Enrico Atanasio said, "Fiat India views Thane as a very strategic market and the inauguration of an exclusive dealership is in accordance with our strategy to capitalize on this potential. We are confident that our association with Balaji Autoworld will play a crucial role in identifying the customer base and enhancing customer experience in Thane. WIth Balaji Autoworld, we are associated with a partner who has almost 20 years of experience and market knowledge of the automobile trade."