Is This Fiat's Comeback Car For India?
Fiat was one of those automakers in India who helped a lot of other major carmakers in India by offering them engines. However, the company itself struggled a lot in the country. As a result, it decided to pull the plug on the Indian automotive market in 2019. Now, for the last few years, people have been waiting for one big question to be answered. Will Fiat ever make a comeback to India? Well, now that the company has recently unveiled its upcoming SUV, the Grizzly, it is being speculated if that could become the vehicle for it to re-enter the Indian market.
These speculations of Fiat making a comeback to India have actually come to the surface because, recently, a heavily camouflaged Fiat SUV was spotted testing on the roads of Bengaluru. But before we proceed, it has to be highlighted by us that Fiat has not made any official announcement regarding its return to India.
Also, there is no confirmation that the Grizzly or Grizzly Fastback will be launched here. However, when we look at the vehicle, the platform it uses, and Stellantis' existing operations in India, it definitely provides us with an interesting possibility where it seems like the Grizzly could make its debut in India as well.
The newly unveiled Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback have been developed as global family SUVs. In the international lineup of Fiat, it will sit above the Grande Panda, and initially it will be sold in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Now, it is believed that out of the two models, the Grizzly Fastback could be particularly interesting for India.
The reason behind this is simple. As we all know, coupe SUVs have become extremely popular in India over the last few years. Cars including the Tata Curvv, Mahindra XEV 9E, and the Citroen Basalt have shown that buyers today want something more stylish than a traditional boxy SUV. So, as the Grizzly Fastback offers exactly these benefits, it has become a talking point.
This SUV boasts a sloping coupe roofline, sporty proportions, large alloy wheels, rugged body cladding, and a modern design. It also looks a lot more premium and emotional than many traditional family SUVs. Most importantly, it measures under 4.5 metres in length, which places it right in one of the most competitive and popular SUV segments in the globe and in India as well.
Another one of the biggest reasons why it is believed that the Grizzly Fastback could theoretically work in India is because of the platform underneath. Both the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback are based on Stellantis' Smart Car architecture. This is the same platform which already underpins vehicles such as the Citroen C3 and Citroen C3 Aircross sold in India.
Internationally, the same platform is also used as a base for the Fiat Grande Panda and Opel Frontera. This means that Stellantis already has experience in localising and manufacturing vehicles based on this platform. So, if Stellantis does decide to bring Fiat back, it would not have to start everything from scratch.
Yes, we understand that the body panels are completely different and the company will have to invest a lot of money in its production. When we compare it to developing an entirely new vehicle specifically for India, the Grizzly Fastback basically already has a very strong foundation for its launch in India.
As stated a few weeks ago, when the Grizzly Fastback was spotted testing in Bengaluru, many people immediately assumed Fiat was preparing for a comeback. However, the reality is a bit more complicated than it seems. For those who may not be aware, Stellantis has a major engineering and technology presence in India.
The company operates a large technology and software centre in Bengaluru where engineers work on vehicle software, connected technologies, AI systems, and validation programs for global products. Apart from Bengaluru, Stellantis also has engineering operations in Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad.
India, over the years, has been used by many global manufacturers for suspension tuning, durability testing, and powertrain validation. This is because of our country’s extremely challenging road conditions and extreme climate variations. So, the test mule being spotted here does not automatically mean a launch is planned. However, it does show that India is very important when it comes to Stellantis' global development operations.
Another important factor which makes it sense for Fiat to make a comeback is that Stellantis already has a manufacturing and supplier ecosystem in India. A number of components used by Stellantis vehicles are manufactured locally. These companies include AVTEC, a CK Birla Group company based in Hosur, which produces important powertrain and drivetrain components for Stellantis operations.
Due to this existing ecosystem, the company already has access to suppliers and engineering resources within the country. This once again does not confirm an India launch of the Grizzly SUV. However, it does make the idea more practical when compared to a completely new entrant with no local presence.
A lot of people might glance over this fact; however, there is an interesting argument which favours the comeback of Fiat in India. And that argument is that even though Fiat struggled in its final years in India, it still has a strong recall among enthusiasts. Models such as the Punto, Linea, and Palio still have a loyal fan base.
Many owners still praise these cars for their build quality, driving dynamics, and solid engineering. In comparison, Citroen is still trying to establish itself in the Indian market. Because of this, there is an argument that Fiat could potentially attract more initial interest simply because it has been a familiar name in India.
So, a stylish product like the Grizzly Fastback could help leverage that existing goodwill. Over the years, we have seen many automotive brands and nameplates being revived successfully in India. We have seen examples such as the Tata Sierra making a comeback in modern form. So, this gives hope that the timing may not be entirely wrong for the comeback of Fiat to India.
Another advantage of the Grizzly family, if the company decides to offer it in India, is its flexibility. Fiat has confirmed that the SUV will be offered with petrol, mild-hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. The petrol and hybrid versions are expected to use Stellantis' time-tested 1.2-litre turbocharged engine.
So, this gives the company the ability to adapt the vehicle according to market demand. If customers prefer petrol, hybrid, or electric vehicles in the future in India, the platform on which it is based is already capable of supporting multiple powertrain options.
The simple answer is that, at the moment, the answer remains unknown. Fiat has not announced any plans to return to India. The Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback are currently intended for international markets such as Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
The vehicles spotted in India were most likely undergoing validation and testing work rather than launch preparation. However, when we look closely into the details, it becomes interesting. Now, at the moment, the only thing we can do is wait and let Stellantis and Fiat decide whether a comeback to India is worth it.