Fiat India has revealed that its manufacturing operations in Kurla have been badly affected by the severe weather conditions and flooding that has hit the Maharashtra state over the last few days.

After last weeks rainfall - the heaviest ever recorded in India - fresh rain on Monday wreaked further havoc. The financial capital, Bombay - also the country's largest city with a population of more than 16 million - was partially under water, with more than a third of its area reportedly badly affected, while the regional death toll now runs into four figures. Fiat's Kurla plant - which assembles around 150 cars per day - did not escape the conditions, and with water up to six feet deep at points, as well as no electricity, production came to an immediate halt.

"Kurla was the area most badly affected by the Mumbai floods. The Fiat plant being in Kurla, was affected to a major extent in the manufacturing area, but the assessment of damages is still under way," new Fiat India MD Paolo Castagna said in a statement issued on Monday. He reported that the engine production area and the paint shop were both severely affected, although repair work began almost immediately.

Fiat have set up a special call-centre so that dealers and customers can obtain necessary components. "The Mumbai monsoons have been an unfortunate calamity for all of us. To ensure we make life easier for all Fiat customers, we have set up a system wherein each of our dealers can contact us to register their requests and place orders for spares etc so that necessary action can be taken on time," Castagna added.

Fiat Adventure Sport

Meanwhile the locally-built Fiat Palio-based Adventure Sport model - the first step in Fiat India's efforts to re-establish itself on the domestic market - is now arriving in the dealerships.
 

The introduction of Fiat Adventure Sport 1.6 petrol is aimed at a new generation of consumers who enthusiastically seek-out the latest trends in style, safety, engine and performance. The Adventure Sport comes in colours such as Formula Red, Thunder Black, Silver Frost and Glacier White. Attractively priced at Rs. 5.58 lakhs ex-Mumbai, it will be available at all Fiat dealers across the country.

The new Fiat Adventure Sport is wrapped in non-scratch, matt-black plastic that extends from the heavy bumpers to the wheel-arch cladding and a tough-looking running board. Double ski- racks, a bull bar, a pair of ellipsoidal auxiliary lights and much taller, chunky, high-profile tyres gives the Fiat Adventure Sport the attitude that gets you all those looks and glances.

The Fiat Adventure Sport has been incorporated with value-added offerings and refinements based on customer feedback and in-house research. As part of its marketing initiatives for the new model, the new campaign focuses on its performance, safety, stylish and sporty looks and most importantly its attractive price proposition.

In mid-July Castagna - who took up his position on 1st June - also announced price cuts for the Palio range to make it more competitive against its rivals and kick-start sales.