Decelerating Tata Motors drives in first new models in 4 years
4 Feb 2014 6:37 AM IST
The two cars - Zest, a compact sedan, and Bolt hatchback, will be powered by the company's new Revotron engine series. These two new products are based on the company's enhanced X1 platform, on which the existing Vista and Manza models are built.
‘These cars have been engineered for global markets, through global teams across India, the UK and Korea to set new standards in their respective segments,’ Tata Motors President Passenger Vehicles Ranjt Yadav said. The journey has just started and with these two new vehicles the company would like to increase its market share, he added. ‘With these two cars, the important part is that we would now be able to address petrol car market,’ Yadav added. After launching the cars in India, the company will be introducing the products in other global markets, Yadav said.
When asked if the company would phase out Indica and Indigo, Tadav said: ‘Both Indica and Indigo are very strong brands and will contine to sell in the market.’
Both the new cars have been a result of collaborative design inputs from the three Tata Motors design studios in Pune, Coventry (UK) and Turin (Italy), the company said.
Zest would be available in both petrol and diesel versions, while Bolt will come only with petrol engine. The diesel variant of Zest will come with F-Tronic 90 PS powered engine. The cars would be produced at company's Pune plant in the first phase and meet Indian safety standards.
‘The cars would adhere to country specific regulatory conditions, whenever we start exporting the cars,’ Yadav said. When asked about improvement in sales, he said the full impact would be felt as the new cars will hit the market only later this year. Both the new cars have various new features including the EPAS (electronic power assisted system).
Tata Motors has been struggling to arrest slide in its car sales amid a prolonged slowdown in the domestic market.
In January, the domestic passenger vehicle sales of Tata Motors dropped to 10,974 units, from 15,209 vehicles a year earlier. It sold 8,463 units of Nano, Indica and Indigo cars and 2,511 units of Sumo, Safari, Aria and Venture vehicles in January.
Ford too leaps in, unveils Figo Concept
New Delhi: Ford on Monday unveiled the global Ford Figo Concept in India, a move aimed at strengthening the company's compact car portfolio. With the global unveiling of the sub 4-meter concept car, Ford is aiming for a substantial presence in the B segment, which is expected to touch 2 million units annually in India by 2018.
‘After the success we had with the Figo and Ecosport, we needed to come up with another strong product, which is what we are doing with Figo Concept,’ Ford India President Nigel Harris said.
While he did not share as to when the product will hit the market, Harris said ‘it is closer to production and we are not several years away’.
Ford Motor Company Global Product Development Vice President of Engineering Kumar Galhotra said: ‘With the Figo Concept, we are showing that choosing a compact sedan does not mean compromising on premium design or smart solutions. Consumers are more demanding than ever, wanting and expecting more from their cars, even if they are first time buyers.’
The Figo Concept builds on the automaker's compact car offerings in India. This segment contributes roughly a third of total sales in the country. The company expects compact car sales in India to grow from about a million units last year to roughly 2 million units in 2018. ‘The Figo concept was envisioned with the Indian market in mind and created with global standards of design, quality and performance,’ Galhotra said.
Harris said that this year Ford will launch 23 models globally and ‘some of them will be coming to India as well’. He did not name the models but said that ‘will be based on customer demand’.
When asked about plans to reduce backlog orders for Ecosport, which is about 60,000 at present, Harris said the company is exploring all options, including ramping up production but it has been a challenge due to the overall high demand of the vehicle globally. The company's upcoming plant at Sanand will become fully operational by 2015.
‘These cars have been engineered for global markets, through global teams across India, the UK and Korea to set new standards in their respective segments,’ Tata Motors President Passenger Vehicles Ranjt Yadav said. The journey has just started and with these two new vehicles the company would like to increase its market share, he added. ‘With these two cars, the important part is that we would now be able to address petrol car market,’ Yadav added. After launching the cars in India, the company will be introducing the products in other global markets, Yadav said.
When asked if the company would phase out Indica and Indigo, Tadav said: ‘Both Indica and Indigo are very strong brands and will contine to sell in the market.’
Both the new cars have been a result of collaborative design inputs from the three Tata Motors design studios in Pune, Coventry (UK) and Turin (Italy), the company said.
Zest would be available in both petrol and diesel versions, while Bolt will come only with petrol engine. The diesel variant of Zest will come with F-Tronic 90 PS powered engine. The cars would be produced at company's Pune plant in the first phase and meet Indian safety standards.
‘The cars would adhere to country specific regulatory conditions, whenever we start exporting the cars,’ Yadav said. When asked about improvement in sales, he said the full impact would be felt as the new cars will hit the market only later this year. Both the new cars have various new features including the EPAS (electronic power assisted system).
Tata Motors has been struggling to arrest slide in its car sales amid a prolonged slowdown in the domestic market.
In January, the domestic passenger vehicle sales of Tata Motors dropped to 10,974 units, from 15,209 vehicles a year earlier. It sold 8,463 units of Nano, Indica and Indigo cars and 2,511 units of Sumo, Safari, Aria and Venture vehicles in January.
Ford too leaps in, unveils Figo Concept
New Delhi: Ford on Monday unveiled the global Ford Figo Concept in India, a move aimed at strengthening the company's compact car portfolio. With the global unveiling of the sub 4-meter concept car, Ford is aiming for a substantial presence in the B segment, which is expected to touch 2 million units annually in India by 2018.
‘After the success we had with the Figo and Ecosport, we needed to come up with another strong product, which is what we are doing with Figo Concept,’ Ford India President Nigel Harris said.
While he did not share as to when the product will hit the market, Harris said ‘it is closer to production and we are not several years away’.
Ford Motor Company Global Product Development Vice President of Engineering Kumar Galhotra said: ‘With the Figo Concept, we are showing that choosing a compact sedan does not mean compromising on premium design or smart solutions. Consumers are more demanding than ever, wanting and expecting more from their cars, even if they are first time buyers.’
The Figo Concept builds on the automaker's compact car offerings in India. This segment contributes roughly a third of total sales in the country. The company expects compact car sales in India to grow from about a million units last year to roughly 2 million units in 2018. ‘The Figo concept was envisioned with the Indian market in mind and created with global standards of design, quality and performance,’ Galhotra said.
Harris said that this year Ford will launch 23 models globally and ‘some of them will be coming to India as well’. He did not name the models but said that ‘will be based on customer demand’.
When asked about plans to reduce backlog orders for Ecosport, which is about 60,000 at present, Harris said the company is exploring all options, including ramping up production but it has been a challenge due to the overall high demand of the vehicle globally. The company's upcoming plant at Sanand will become fully operational by 2015.
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