Fiat says it may not meet sales target set for 2010

"Yes, we are facing stiff competition. There is a possibility of us falling short of our sales target of 46,000 units set for this year," Fiat India's President and CEO Rajeev Kapoor told told PTI here.

The company had targeted doubling its sales in 2010 to 46,000 units from 23,000 units sold in 2009.

It is now looking at new strategies to boost the sales of its two premium cars -- Punto and Linea. "We have adopted some new strategies to boost our sales and are hopeful of success in the coming days," Kapoor said.

Tata Motors and Fiat had inked an equal joint venture in 2007 to build cars and also produce transmission sets and engines at the Ranjangaon facility near Pune.

Fiat India has launched the Fiat 500, Linea sedan and the Grande Punto hatchback. These cars are sold through Tata Motors dealerships. So far, Fiat India has sold close to 47,000 units. The company has a 175-strong dealership network pan-India.

The company also has plans to develop a small car specifically for the Indian market.

"Fiat plans to develop a small car for the Indian market in Italy with the help of an Indian team. It will be launched here with our joint venture partner, Tata Motors, with about 80-85 per localisation," Kapoor had said.