After forming a joint venture with Tata Motors for cars in India, Italian auto major Fiat is now looking to partner the Indian company for Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) brands and hopes to supply engines for the recently-acquired British marques. Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne said the company was ready to supply engines for JLR and has approached Tata Motors, the new owner of the brands, with a proposal. “It is one of the available options that we have. We have made that clear and told them we will discuss this issue if asked,” Marchionne, who was here for a Siam meet, said.

Marchionne said even as Jaguar and Land Rover would get engine support from Ford during a transition period after the change in their ownership, Fiat also had the required technology. “They have a commitment to get support mechanism out of Ford to do transitin on engines. The question is whether that solution is really the optimal right solution for them or whether they should look at alternative powertrains. I think we probably have the wherewithal and skills to try and provide them with a better package,” Marchionne said.

Under Tata Motors, Jaguar and Land Rover run the risk of facing stiff penalties on new car sales as the average fleet carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the two marques is much higher than the proposed European Commission norms set to come into play from 2012. And while the two brands are working to meet the stricter norms, a helping hand from Fiat could benefit them.

Tata and Fiat already have a joint venture in India and have together invested close to Rs 4,000 crore at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra for a new car and engine plant. Tata is sourcing engines for its new cars from this plant and the engines are made from Fiat’s latest technology. These include Fiat’s famed 1.3-liter multijet diesel engine.