Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is the eighteenth largest motor vehicle manufacturing company in the world by volume. Part of the Tata Group, it was formerly known as TELCO (TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company). Its products include passenger cars, trucks, vans and coaches. Tata Motors is ranked #359 globally in Fortune Global 500 list in 2011.
Tata Motors is South Asia’s largest automobile company; it is the leader in commercial vehicles and among the top three in passenger vehicles. Worldwide it is the world's fourth-largest truck manufacturer and second-largest bus manufacturer. It has auto manufacturing and assembly plants in Jamshedpur, Pantnagar, Lucknow, Sanand, Dharwad and Pune, India, as well as in Argentina, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Tata Motors has produced and sold over 6.5 million vehicles in India since 1954.
Originally a manufacturer of locomotives, the company manufactured its first commercial vehicle in 1954 in a collaboration with Daimler-Benz AG, which ended in 1969.In 2010, Tata Motors surpassed Reliance to win the coveted title of 'India's most valuable brand' in an annual survey conducted by Brand Finance and The Economic Times.Tata Motors was ranked as India's 3rd Most Reputed Car manufacturer in the Reputation Benchmark Study - Auto (Cars) Sector, launched in April 2012.
Time Line of major Events-
Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co Ltd (TELCO) set up as a locomotive maker at the end of World War Two
1954
Company shifts to making trucks in a joint venture with Germany's Daimler Benz
1977
Commences production of commercial vehicles
1994
Enters venture with Daimler to make Mercedes Benz cars in India
1998
Launches fully indigenous passenger car, the Indica
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| Indica |
2001
Ends joint venture with Daimler
2002
TELCO renamed Tata Motors Ltd
2003
Announces plan to build world's cheapest car, to sell for 100,000 rupees(Later named Tata nano)
2004
Acquires South Korea's Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co, and lists on the New York Stock Exchange. Launches Indigo sedan
2005
Buys 21 percent stake in Spanish bus maker Hispano Carrocera SA, launches mini-truck Ace in India
2006
Signs manufacturing and distribution agreement with Fiat, enters venture with Brazilian bus maker Marcopolo
2008
Unveils the Nano at Delhi Auto Expo- Buys Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co for $2.3 billion
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| Tata nano |
Jaguar and Land Rover
After the acquisition of the British Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) business, which also includes the Daimler, Lanchester and Rover brands,Tata Motors became a major player in the international automobile market. On 27 March 2008, Tata Motors reached an agreement with Ford to purchase their Jaguar Land Rover operations for US$2.3 billion. The sale was completed on 2 June 2008.
In addition to the brands, Tata Motors has also gained access to two design centres and two plants in UK. The key acquisition would be of the intellectual property rights related to the technologies.
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| Tata acquiring Jaguar & Land Rover |
Tata in India-
Tata Motors Limited is India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of 356.5148 billion (US$7.11 billion) in 2007–08.It is the leader in commercial vehicles in each segment, and among the top three in passenger vehicles in India with products in the compact, midsize car and utility vehicle segments.
Tata vehicles are sold primarily in India, and over 4 million Tata vehicles have been produced domestically since the first Tata vehicle was assembled in 1954. The company’s manufacturing base in India is spread across Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Dharwad (Karnataka).
Following a strategic alliance with Fiat in 2005, Tata set up an industrial joint venture with Fiat Group Automobiles at Ranjangaon (Maharashtra) to produce both Fiat and Tata cars and Fiat powertrains. The company is establishing a new plant at Sanand (Gujarat). Tata's dealership, sales, service and spare parts network comprises over 3500 touch points. Tata Motors also distributes and markets Fiat branded cars in India.
Hispano Carrocera
In 2005, sensing an opportunity in the fully built bus segment, Tata Motors acquired a 21% stake in Hispano Carrocera SA, the leading European bus and coach cabin maker. In 2009, the company picked up the remaining 79% stake in Hispano Carrocera SA for an undisclosed sum, making it a fully owned subsidiary.
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| Tata Hispano Carrocera |
