Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) India today said it has commenced exports of its first locally manufactured Jeep Compass SUV to Japan and Australia.
The shipment of 600 right-hand drive units of the vehicle was dispatched to the two countries from Bombay Port Trust here, FCA India said in a release.
Manufactured at the Italian-American auto major's Ranjangaon facility near Pune, the Jeep Compass SUV was launched in July this year at a starting price of Rs 14.95 lakh.
"We had planned to start shipping the India-made Jeep Compass in the fourth quarter of this calendar year and we are on track. Soon it will be seen on the roads in Australia and Japan, our first two right-hand drive export destinations," Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd (FIAPL) chief executive officer Gurpratap Boparai said.
The Ranjangaon-produced SUV with over 65 per cent local content will go to more international markets through the ongoing quarter of 2017, the company said.
FCA India has invested USD 280 million in the plant to support local production of Jeep.
"The Jeep Compass has gained impressive traction in India since the price announcement and we are enjoying continued momentum with growing interest as the Compass is now being regularly seen on Indian roads.
"Our effort and intent has been to pace up our retail deliveries after the market launch, in time for the festive season, without losing sight of our exports for this year," FCA India President and Managing Director Kevin Flynn said in the release.
He said FCA India has added five more sales and service outlets since July taking its distribution reach to 55 and by the year-end the number of these outlets is expected reach 60.
"We are looking forward to a strong 2018 when production will be at full pace delivering on target domestic and export numbers," he added.
Soon after the India price announcement, FCA had rolled out the 2-litre diesel 4x2 and 4x4 versions of the Jeep Compass.
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