Get to Know TATA MOTORS...THEY'VE Bought Jaguar and Land Rover - VIDEO ENHANCED
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TACH AUTO CENTRAL - (Originally published) January 30, 2008: For most of us in North America, we know nothing about those car makers that don't sell their products here. And of course, the tendency is to dismiss them as being inferior or unworthy of our attention. But of course, this is not only a preposterous notion from a consumer perspective because its important to have a sense of value, but it’s very short-sighted if you’re a car aficionado. Some of the best and most exciting vehicles produced never touch our shores.
So who is this TATA MOTORS? Who are they to think that they could become the heirs of such grand and magnificent automotive heritages as those belonging to Jaguar and Land Rover?
Well, to begin with, TATA MOTORS is an Indian company.
 Tata Nano being introduced at Auto Expo India |
 Tata Sumo Grande |
Click PLAY to watch the Nano introduction
BACKGROUND
“Okay,” you ask, “How does TATA go from making a
$2,500 car to owning two of the world’s most famous luxury
brand?” Here’s how:
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile
company, with revenues of Rs. 32,426 crores (USD 7.2 billion) in 2006-07.
It is the leader by far in commercial vehicles in each segment, and the
second largest in the passenger vehicles market with winning products in
the compact, midsize car and utility vehicle segments. The company is the
world's fifth largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer, and
the world's second largest medium and heavy bus manufacturer.
The company's
22,000 employees are guided by the vision to be "best in the manner in
which we operate, best in the products we deliver, and best in our value
system and ethics." Tata Motors helps its employees realise their potential
through innovative HR practices. The company's goal is to empower and
provide employees with dynamic career paths in congruence with corporate
objectives. All-round potential development and performance improvement is
ensured by regular in-house and external training. The company has won
several awards recognizing its training programs.
Established in 1945,
Tata Motors' presence indeed cuts across the length and breadth of India.
There's over 4 million Tata vehicles on Indian roads, since the first rolled
out in 1954. The company's manufacturing base is spread across India -
Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) in the east, Pune (Maharashtra) in the west, and in
the north in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) and Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). A new
plant is being set up in Singur (close to Kolkata in West Bengal) to
manufacture the company's small car. The nation-wide dealership, sales,
services and spare parts network comprises over 2,000 touch points. The
company also has a strong auto finance operation, TML Financial Services
Limited, supporting customers to purchase Tata Motors vehicles.
Tata Motors, the first company from India's engineering sector to be listed in
the New York Stock Exchange (September 2004), has also emerged as an
international automobile company. In 2004, it acquired the Daewoo
Commercial Vehicles Company, Korea's second largest truck maker. The
rechristened Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company has launched several
new products in the Korean market, while also exporting these products to
several international markets. Today two-thirds of heavy commercial vehicle
exports out of South Korea are from Tata Daewoo. In 2005, Tata Motors
acquired a 21% stake in Hispano Carrocera, a respected Spanish bus and coach
manufacturer, with an option to acquire the remaining stake as well.
Hispano's presence is being expanded in other markets. In 2006, it formed a
joint venture with the Brazil-based Marcopolo, a global leader in
body-building for buses and coaches to manufacture fully-built buses and
coaches for India and select international markets. Tata Motors also
entered into a joint venture in 2006 with Thonburi Automotive Assembly
Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market the company's pickup
vehicles in Thailand. In 2006, Tata Motors and Fiat Auto formed an
industrial joint venture at Ranjangaon (near Pune in Maharashtra, India) to
produce both Fiat and Tata cars and Fiat powertrains for the Indian and
overseas markets; Tata Motors already distributes and markets Fiat branded
cars in India. In 2007, Tata Motors and Fiat Auto entered into an agreement
for a Tata license to build a pick-up vehicle bearing the Fiat nameplate at
Fiat Group Automobiles' Plant at Córdoba, Argentina. The pick-up will be
sold in South and Central America and select European markets.
These linkages will further extend Tata Motors' international footprint,
established through exports since 1961. While currently about 18% of its
revenues are from international business, the company's objective is to
expand its international business, both through organic and inorganic
growth routes. The company's commercial and passenger vehicles are already
being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East,
Australia, South East Asia and South Asia. It has assembly operations in
Malaysia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Russia and Senegal.
Well, there it is in a nutshell. It’ll be as interesting to watch what happens with Jaguar and Land Rover as it will be to watch how China’s NAC Motors does with the MG and Rover (what’s that you ask, “MG and Rover are now Chinese cars?” Yes, and for more info use our Search Engine located at the top of this page).
And now you know at least some of the story. For additional press info about TATA use The Auto Channel’s Search Engine.
Click PLAY to watch the Sumo Grande video