INDIA: Tata Motors shows off first new cars in four years

Record ID: 1375229

  • Title: INDIA: Tata Motors shows off first new cars in four years
  • Date: 3rd February 2014
  • Summary: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL NEW DELHI, INDIA (FEBRUARY 03, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) TATA MOTORS' NEW SMALL CAR, 'BOLT' BEING DRIVEN ONTO THE DAIS PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES TATA MOTORS' NEW SMALL CAR, 'ZEST' BEING DRIVEN ON THE DAIS PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES INTERIOR OF THE HALL TATA MOTORS OFFICIALS ON THE DAIS PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES DIGNITARIES SHAKING HANDS WITH EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (English and Hindi) PRESIDENT OF PASSENGER VEHICLES OF TATA MOTORS, RANJIT YADAV, SAYING: "We have developed new design for new world -- for the new global citizen and the Indian consumer. Designs change with time. We believe this is very good design for next generation cars. 'ZEST' ON THE DAIS TATA MOTORS OFFICIALS STANDING NEAR 'BOLT' INTERIOR OF THE HALL EXTERIOR OF 'BOLT' CAR A SIGNBOARD READING ON THE CAR, 'BOLT' INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR OF 'BOLT' CAR
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2014 19:56
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Business,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA3RWSSWACU3EHWKWKWTTE10W5W
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: India's largest carmaker Tata Motors unveiled its first new models in four years on Monday (February 03), banking on two small cars to reverse the company's sliding passenger car sales in the face of growing foreign competition.
    In a bid to revive its fortunes, Tata is pinning its hopes for now on the all-new Bolt hatchback and Zest entry-level sedan to tap into the small car market that accounts for the bulk of passenger vehicle sales in India.
    Sales of Tata passenger vehicles in India fell an annual 37 percent in the first nine months of the fiscal year that ends in March, according to data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the steepest drop in an ailing industry headed for a second straight year of declining sales.
    "We have developed new design for new world -- for the new global citizen and the Indian consumer. Designs change with time. We believe this is very good design for next generation cars, said President of passenger vehicles of Tata Motors, Ranjit Yadav, in New Delhi.
    Rising interest rates and high fuel costs in Asia's third-largest economy, growing at its slowest pace in a decade, have pushed consumers to delay the purchase of big ticket items.
    Last year, the India autos giant watched as its rivals launched a number of popular models, including Honda Motor Co with its entry-level sedan Amaze and Hyundai Motor Co's Grand i10 hatchback. Tata, meanwhile, only tweaked and refreshed existing models.
    Small cars are top sellers in a country where most people prefer to drive cheaper, fuel-efficient compact cars as roads are clogged with traffic and parking in big cities is hard to come by.
    Over the last two years, Tata has relied on strong performance at its luxury Jaguar Land Rover unit to offset weak sales at home, where it is losing market share to Hyundai Motor, Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.NS) and others.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
Register