Fiat to Expand Dealer Base in India

Fiat SpA intends to double its dealer network In India to 110 outlets by next April as part of its plan to launch nine vehicles there over the next three years. The rollout will include the debut of models from its Abarth and Chrysler brands.

Fiat aims to boost its Indian market share to 5% by 2015 from less than 1% now. The company's sales there dropped by more than half to 6,900 vehicles in the fiscal year ended March 31.

Fiat has been slowly creating its own dealer base in India since ending a distribution joint venture with Tata Motors Ltd. in 2007.