Ailing US auto major Chrysler is hoping to ride on its deal with Fiat to enter the Indian car market, which it says offers opportunities for its range of products, particularly the Jeep brand.
"We have been slow in entering India. This (deal with Fiat) may be an opportunity for us, particularly for the Jeep brand that could be very successful in that market," Chrysler Executive Vice-President (Product Development) Frank Klegon told PTI on the sidelines of the Chicago Auto Show here.
He said one of the opportunities provided by the deal is Fiat's international network, through which Chrysler would be able to expand its brands in markets where it is not yet present.
Pointing out that Jeep has been one of Chrysler's most popular brands globally, Klegon said Jeep could be the first product it would launch in India once the finer details of the Fiat deal are worked out.
Klegon, however, did not put a time frame by when the company would launch products in India.
Last month, Chrysler entered into a strategic alliance with the Italian carmaker under which Fiat would receive a 35 per cent stake in it. Fiat would not be providing cash for the stake but would give Chrysler access to its smallcar platforms and distribution capabilities in key growth markets.
Klegon further said Chrysler is currently working on its plan, which it has to submit to the US government next week to show how it would become viable and repay billions in loans.
"We will be presenting what a Chrysler plan looks like and how a Chrysler-Fiat plan is augmented to that," he said, adding that both plans would show the government that Chrysler can survive.
A team is working with Fiat on product sharing, getting into details of what products each company might build and sell.
Chrysler got a $4-billion government loan and is hoping for an additional $3 billion to help it remain afloat. The 101st edition of the Chicago Auto show opened here yesterday with about 50 car manufacturers participating in the event. About 1,000 products are on display at the show.
