Stellantis India plans to halve vehicle development time from around 48 months to nearly 24 months while increasing localisation, as it prepares to launch 12 products across the Citroen and Jeep brands under its FaSTLAne 2030 roadmap.
New Delhi, October 20 — Stellantis India is aiming to reduce the time required to develop new vehicles from around 48 months to approximately 24 months, as it accelerates product development and localisation in the country.
Managing Director and CEO Shailesh Hazela said the objective is aligned with Stellantis’ global ambition to bring new vehicles to market in about two years.
India will play an important role in achieving that target because Stellantis operates one of its major software and technology centres in Bengaluru.
Hazela said the India engineering centre is one of the company’s four large global technology hubs and develops vehicles not only for Jeep and Citroen, but for models sold around the world.
The centre has therefore been given the same mandate to shorten product-development timelines.
Stellantis India is also expanding its longstanding manufacturing partnership with Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.
The two companies recently signed a definitive agreement to broaden their collaboration into advanced technology and product development.
Under the expanded partnership, Tata Motors and Stellantis plan to jointly develop vehicles for more than 50 global markets and manufacture them in India at Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd, their 50:50 joint venture.
Localisation is another major part of Stellantis’ strategy.
Citroen currently has a localisation level of around 90-95%, while Jeep’s localisation stands at approximately 70-75%.
Hazela said the company is working towards achieving more than 90% localisation across its products, supported by local engineering and a domestic supply chain.
Higher localisation is expected to give the company greater flexibility in pricing its vehicles competitively for the Indian market.
Stellantis has also announced an investment of ₹4,000 crore over the next three years as it prepares to introduce 12 models, including seven completely new products, across the Jeep and Citroen brands.
The investment will mainly support new products, localisation and improvements in customer experience.
Jeep currently sells four models in India — Compass, Wrangler, Meridian and Grand Cherokee — while Citroen offers C3, BasaltX, AircrossX and C5 Aircross.
Under the new product plan, Jeep will receive four new models, including SUVs in the B, C and D segments and a D-segment pickup.
Citroen will add three new models — a C-segment SUV, a D-segment MPV and an A-segment car.
