Fiat India Automobiles recently launched a new theme, ‘Italian Technological Marvels’ at its FIAT Caffe, Pune. This initiative from Fiat is to showcase a host of Italian engineering marvels for the next two months. Italian inventions such as Electric Motors, Batteries, Ball Bearings, Internal Combustion Engines & Microprocessors have been vital for development in automotive sector. The campaign will enlighten students, office goers, business persons & prospective buyers of Italian prowess in the field of automobile engineering into building cars.
The campaign will also feature Fiat’s Inventions of the Common Rail Direct Injection technology & India favorite 1.3L Multijet SDE. To project a strong connect with the theme, walls at Caffe have posters of the Italian Inventions, including Fiat’s technologies and innovations like Blue&Me and Multijet.
At the FIAT Caffe, customers can go through the latest FIAT India cars on display, take a test drive, browse through FIAT worldwide or FIAT India details, guided by specially trained personnel. The collection of international FIAT merchandise, giant video screens running FIAT ads, stylish and unique furniture & fittings give a glimpse of FIAT’s vast history and rich heritage while adding a luxury feel to the Caffe. An in house library features books on FIAT’s glorious history, the various sub brands and its sister companies. The guests can enjoy the classic Italian atmosphere while enhancing knowledge about their favourite brands, sipping on some authentic Italian coffee.
The techno event was supported by Mr. Enrico Atanasio, Senior Vice President- Commercial, Mr. Jayant Deb, Head- Engineering & Design and Mr. Gurpratap Boparai, Head- FIAT Powertrain.
Our man, Rahul, was present on the occasion and here is what he has to say about his visit to the Pune Caffe-
Fiat guys had just started talking about the history of Italy, the fashion capital of the world and home to the makers of arguably the most beautiful cars on planet, as I entered the Caffe. A giant screen was used to show and explain the innovations that took place at the country. They talked about innovations that happened across all sectors, right from medicine to food and other stuff, ending it with the developments in the automobile industry. Next, they talked in detail about our national diesel engine- the Multijet Diesel that powers every other diesel car in Indian market.
I checked out one of the touchscreen panels that have been positioned at various corners of the Caffe and can be fiddled with to have a glance at the features of both the Caffe and Fiat products.
Towards the end of the talks by the guys at Fiat, a question-answer round was held for people to present their queries to Mr.Gurupratap S. Boparai VP, Head of powertrain Division and Mr.Enrico Atanasio, Head-Commercial Fiat India.
I have always been interested in the technologies that come from Fiat so following are the questions that I put to Mr.Atanasio-
When are you going to get the multi-air here?
The answer was that it will be a huge investment and we will also have to understand volumes and for India it and going by all that it will not be any time soon… My expression turned ?
Why aren’t you planning products in the other segment?
The answer given was that they are focusing more on their dealer network as of now and trying to improve it after which they might think. Tata’s were not so great according to him so their main focus is on network.
Then I asked what about other brands?
I was told that once they have a good enough dealer networks they will be getting them here. Chrysler was the name that surfaced from this discussion.
What about the rest Alfa, Maserati?
He said after the network is in place they will make a big announcement.
Photographs- Rahul Nargundkar