Stellantis group looks to scale Indian ops with new cars under Citroen and Jeep brands
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The company, which has invested Rs 11,000 crore in India and sells cars under the Citroen and Jeep brands, plans to drive in a series of new cars in the country over the coming years to gain market share.
It sold just 7,500 units last year in the domestic market as it starts to scale fledgling operations after deciding to discontinue the group's Fiat brand.
Shailesh Hazela, MD & CEO of Stellantis in India, told TOI that the group is bullish on the India-EU FTA which – when concluded – will help it introduce global models and technologies faster into India.
'A trade agreement is always good for both the parties as they can leverage each other's strength… An India-EU FTA will work for both as we can export more India-made cars and also bring in some of the products from global, test the market, and then focus on localizing them if they work. Also, it can become an export opportunity for Indian components as they can be shipped to countries where we will be manufacturing.'
It is believed that the electric version of the C5 premium SUV may be looked at for India through the FTA route, if it materialises.
Stellantis currently sells cars such as Citreon C3 mini, electric C3, Basalt coupe and C5 Aircross in India, apart from Jeep's models such as Compass, Meridien, and Grand Cherokee. While the Citroen cars are made in Tamil Nadu at a factory that the company acquired from the CK Birla group, Jeep models are made in Maharashtra through a manufacturing JV with Tata Motors.
Hazela said there are plans to get in new cars to India, and the effort will be to drive in 'affordable premium' models which are focussed in the Rs 10-25 lakh price bracket.
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'Lot many are on the drawing board as of now… But the focus will continue to be on SUVs, where the customers are.'
He conceded that volumes in India are currently low, primarily as these are early days for the brand and since it's tough to compete with established players. 'The Indian market is very complex. It takes time to make your place. It takes time to build brand and trust.'
The group has also been using its India factories to export cars, especially the Citroen branded vehicles which are being shipped to Indonesia, ASEAN region, Malaysia, Egypt, and South Africa.
On the new EV policy for electrics, he said that the company is not keen to go for it.
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