Tata Motors to invest Rs 10,000 crore
The New Indian Express — September 8, 2006

Tata Motors has disclosed its plans to invest Rs 10,000-12,000 crore in India over the next 3-4 years and is also keenly looking at Russia and China for vehicle sales and component sourcing. "Tata Motors will be investing somewhere between Rs 10,000-12,000 crore over the next 3-4 years for increasing manufacturing capacities and launching new products," Tata Motors managing director Ravi Kant informed. Kant said the company was looking at developing Russia as an important market for selling light trucks, buses and pickups.

"Russia is a big market, with a large consumer base and we are working on it through three relationships for the identified segments," Kant said. The company would be assembling its vehicles in Russia, he said though refusing to specify whether this would involve equity participation. On China, he said the company was looking at increased component sourcing to bring down costs of vehicle development in India. "We are looking at various geographies to bring down our cost and China is one of these countries," Kant said.

On reports that Tata Motors had involved Fiat as a partner in its ambitious Rs 1-lakh car project, he refused a direct reply saying, "The two companies are always looking at synergising operations under the agreement that we have. However, I cannot comment on small car project." Asked if Tata would partner with Iveco in the commercial vehicle business he said, "It exists in the realm of possibility but nothing is on the table as yet."