Tata Motors to replace vehicle range
The Financial Express — November 17, 2005

Tata Motors will replace its existing range of vehicles with a new generation of passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the next 3-5 years, Ravi Kant, managing director, Tata Motors said on Wednesday. Moreover, the joint team set up to identify areas of co-operation between Fiat SpA, Italy, and Tata Motors, will submit its report in the next 3-4 weeks, Mr Kant added. "We would have new products with more contemporary looks, better refinement, better driving feel and comfort", he told FE in an interview. The most popular vehicle from Tata Motors, Indica, was launched in 1998.

Indica was also India's first indigenous car. Multi-utility vehicle Tata Sumo was launched even earlier in 1994. Though both the vehicles have gone through multiple refinements and upgradation since their launch. Multinational vehicle makers in India have vehicles with superior quality and performance and they are trying to reduce costs as well. As an Indian company, Tata Motors needs to retain its cost advantage and close the gap in quality and performance, according to Mr Kant.

Mr Kant, however, ruled out the possibility of sharing or using Fiat India's manufacturing facilities in Mumbai and Pune. "Fiat India's manufacturing plant is entirely theirs. They will run and manage it. We have nothing to do with it. The talks on the alliance are at a higher level of the Tatas and Fiat SpA", Mr Kant asserted. Tata Motors has its own overseas marketing set up and would use it to enter new markets, Mr Kant said, reacting to reports on Tata planning to use Fiat's international units to market its products.