Fiat planning to launch a new model Palio in India.

Italian car maker Fiat said it isevaluating options to introduce a new model car in India through the completely builtunit route and is also firming up plans for a small car that is likely to hitthe market next year.  The company, whichis present in India through a joint venture with Tata Motors, recentlyrestructured its board in India by replacing tow if its directors. 

           “Thereare different routes and opportunity to launch a model in India and thecompletely built unit route is one of them. Every route is open to us  and weare still evaluating,” Fiat IndiaPresident and CEO Rajeev Kapoor told media.

            He,however, declined to share further details such as the model and a possibletimeline to launch the vehicle.

            Atpresent, the company is developing an India-specific small car at its R&Dcentre in Turin, Italy, with input from itsoperations here.

            “Thesmall car is under development. We had announced earlier that our intention isto launch it in 2012. the exact timing and details will be ready with theproduct Kapoor said.

            Duringthe Auto expo in January last year, the company had said that it would develop asmall car specially for the Indian market, 80-85% of localization of pats.  The small car would be produced at its plantin Ranjanagaon, Maharastra.  Kapoor hadsaid the car could be similar or smaller than its existing hatchback,Palio.