Indian car service provider Carnation Auto tied up with the Fiat Group’s Magneti Marelli last week, to service premium cars. Carnation Auto Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Jagdish Khattar, told mediapersons that the company had so far dealt with only entry-level cars, and that with this new venture, it would also start servicing premium cars priced at above Rs 10 lakh. The two companies will start a pilot programme in Gurgaon in the initial phase of the project, and will later expand it to cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru depending on customers’ response. They will also launch jointly branded auto parts for after-market sales.
The new alliance may create problems between Tata Motors and Fiat, which already have a partnership in the country. It was earlier believed that top Fiat brands like Maserati, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo would be introduced in India through Tata Motors’ dealer and service network. However, until such an agreement is officially signed, Tata Motors can have no say in the matter. Mr Jagdish Khattar said that the tie-up between Fiat and Carnation had been approved by the top management of Fiat, and that there would be no conflict of interest with Tata Motors.
