Tata Motors, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, today announced the entry of two models from their successful product range: Indica, a stylish, modern hatchback and the Indigo, a roomy yet compact sedan in the South African market. The cars will be available at the dealerships in a month’s time. Mr Ratan N. Tata, chairman, Tata Group, unveiled both the cars on the first day of ‘Auto Africa Expo 2004’ that opened in Johannesburg today.

Tata Motors will introduce four derivatives of the Indica, which will appeal to different customers spanning the entire hatchback car segment. Recognising the needs of the increasingly discerning South African customers, every derivative will offer power steering while the fully loaded version at the top end will be available with features like heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), central locking, driver airbag, passenger airbag, power windows, power steering, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and richly textured seat upholstery. Two derivatives of the Indica will be available with 1.4 litre 56 KW petrol engine and the higher two with 64 KW versions.

The 1.4 litre 64 KW Indigo sedan will be offered in two versions — standard and luxury. While the standard version of the Indigo will have features like power steering and HVAC, the luxury version will be fully speced, as in the Indica.

With close to half a million vehicles sold and consistently being among the best sellers in the Indian market, the Indica and Indigo have seen successful entries into several overseas markets, including Europe.

Announcing the launch, Mr Ratan Tata stated, “We are confident that the Indica and the Indigo will be seen to offer superior value to our South African customers. Over the coming years, we are hopeful that our company will grow in South Africa and will have an opportunity to introduce additional models and participate in more product segments.”

The distribution and marketing of the Tata passenger cars in South Africa will be handled by Accordian Investments (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between the Imperial Group, Ukhamba Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Tata Africa. A network of 20 dealers will be employed in the first phase for marketing these cars. Accordian Investments have already been managing the distribution of the Tata pick-up trucks in South Africa for the past few months. Tata Motors has been selling its medium commercial and buses in the South African market through Tata Automobile Corporation South Africa (TACSA) since 1997.

In addition to the Tata passenger vehicles, on display at the Auto Africa Expo 2004, is the Tata Novus heavy range of commercial vehicles, manufactured at Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company Ltd, South Korea .The Tata Novus range will comprise of tipper, concrete mixer and tractor trailers. The company is also showcasing its eight-ton truck (LPT 1518) at the Auto Africa, which has been designed especially for the South African conditions. This vehicle is equipped with 180 hp engine with overdrive gearbox and strong, robust aggregates designed to last longer and reduce downtime. Both these will be introduced in South Africa in the first quarter of FY2005.

With the introduction of this range, Tata will be one of the few manufacturers in South Africa who will be present in almost all the segments in the automobile industry — from small cars to heavy commercial vehicles. Tata Africa is also setting up a bus assembly unit in Johannesburg, with an investment of Rand 40 million.

Tata Motors, the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer, produces more than 150 commercial vehicle models with a range of light, medium to heavy-duty trucks, buses and tractor-trailers. Tata Motors, with revenues of over US$3.5 billion (FY 2003-04), is a leading flagship of Tata Group.

The Tata Group has a leadership position in engineering, materials, energy, consumer products, services and communication, hotels and Information Systems. Over 3 million Tata vehicles ply on Indian roads, making Tata a dominant force in the Indian automobile industry.