Tata launches Jaguar/LandRover in India
June 29, 2009 by David Twomey
Tata Motors Ltd, India’s largest vehicles maker, has announced the launch in India of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, the leading brands it bought from Ford Motor Company last year.
Saying it was a momentous occasion for the company, chairman Ratan Tata said, “This is in keeping with our desire to extend the penetration of the brands in India.”
The automobile firm, which controls about 60 per cent of the world’s fifth-biggest truck and bus market, will soon also be rolling out the Nano, billed as the world’s cheapest car.
Jaguar is launching the XF and XK range of luxury sedans, coupes and convertibles in India starting at a price tag of 6.3 million rupees (US$130,977) and going up to 9 million rupees (US$187,500).
Land Rover will initially be launching three vehicles including the Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery 3, with a similar price range.
“The luxury car market in India is very small, but there is a huge opportunity there. It is growing fast and we expect it to grow fast over the next five to 10 years,” said David Smith, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover.
“India is an important part of our plans for the future,” said Mike Driscoll, managing director of Jaguar.
The luxury car segment in India is less than one per cent of the total car market there.
On Friday Tata Motors posted its first loss in eight years at US$520 million for the year to March 2009, with the bulk of that figure down to its Jaguar Land Rover unit, which reported a loss of 306 million pounds (US$504 million) in the 10 months of the fiscal year to March 2009.
That was blamed on the effects of the severe global recession, which has crippled car sales.
On the issue of loan guarantees for JLR, Mr Tata said, “we are in discussions with the UK government on the loan guarantees and hopefully we will find a solution for it … and our funding plan for JLR will progress.”
The company is seeking guarantees for the 340 million pounds (US$559 million) loan sanctioned by the European Investment Bank and other loans from UK-based commercial banks.
JLR wants the loans to develop new and more fuel efficient cars with which to improve its competitive position.
“Sustaining the downturn is important for us … and finding a solution (for the loan guarantees) is extremely important to us,” Mr Tata said.
He also said that if there was a large financial package from the UK government for Jaguar and Land Rover then, “there should be commensurate level of representation from them,” which had to be negotiated and worked out.
Print it: 
Good god I have made a post before #########primo#########
and Alex.
Godd on Tata, I hope they do well and continue to sell square Landrovers to squares.
As for the Jags, long may they reign as the worlds finest marquee.
Cant wait for Alex to remind us what a rich boy he is, and how wealthy his parents are.
Long live JAG
Did I read that right??
“..starting at a price tag of 6.3 million rupees (US$130,977) and going up to 9 million rupees (US$187,500).
Land Rover will initially be launching three vehicles with a similar price range.”
Thats some expensive Land Rovers!!
I suppose its because the market is small over there, and the divide between poverty and wealth is quite large, meaning they can capitalise on anything that falls into that luxury category.
Taking it a bit far don’t you think?
I hope this move works well for JLR since sails are way down. I’m surprised that they didn’t sell them there already; Indians seem to love Brtish things.
“Indians seem to love British things.”
Um, i think you’d be suprissed. Its common fact that “British seem to love Indians things” ie Rubies, Gold, THERE NATIONAL DISH IS CURRY, Spice (Pepper, Saffron and Cardamom), Silk and textiles, Over 60% of todays medicine can be traced back to the aruvydic texts etc etc ;)
Jaguar and Land Rover are really great cars and well known all over the world. That’s why it’s not surprising many countries would love to have one in their own country. Well, India is home for many car fanatics, and I’m sure they’d love to drive Jag and Land Rover over there, not to mention they can afford to buy one or two.
The Indian and french combination of Mahindra Renault is also working weel with the sedan Logan in India. Indian car manufacturers are on a roll. great going.
Personally i Like Logan a lot.
Tata’s is not India’s largest vehicle manufacturer but the largest Indian owned auto company.
Top 3 Manufacturer’s in India are
1) Maruti Suzuki
2) Hyundai
3) Tata Motors
The Indian prices of the Land Rovers and Jaguars are a lot higher due to the fact that they are brought in as Completely Built Up (CBU’s) units and hence are heavily taxed. Think about 95% of the cars value.