US Carmakers To Review Future Strategy & Investment Plans In India

With the changing scenario of customer preferences and regulations by the government, three US auto majors, Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler are reviewing their strategy and investment plans in India.

GM has put the brakes on $1 billion investment plan and will not be bringing the new platform to India, which would have been the future vehicles' platform in India. Recently, the MPV Spin was to be launched by GM, however, that seems to be on the back burner.

Ford was to work on the B500 platform which would have been the future products platform in India. This has been stopped by Ford and investment plans by the company are being re-evaluated.

With the diesel ban on vehicles more 2000cc engine capacity, the carmakers are trying to find out if the petrol variants can help the sagging sales. Fiat Chrysler is planning to launch the iconic Jeep in India and is looking at petrol variants of the premium SUV Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.

Kevin Flynn, managing director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India, said, "Fortunately, Jeep on a global sales level is predominantly petrol so we are homologating these models so we can react to the market once clarity is known. This uncertainty in the business environment is still a big concern for us and our dealers at this important time of investment ahead of going live."

GM will continue to launch new vehicles like the Chevrolet Beat Activ and the Essentia in 2017 along with it a re-evaluation of its future plans.

Ford, on the other hand, has not revealed any future products in India and it could take another three years before we see a new vehicle from Ford.

Source