Tata set to roll out JLR in India by mid-2009 Pankaj Doval | TNN
Shanghai: More than a year after buying Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford,
Tata Motors is all set to drive them into India, looking to launch the
iconic brands by middle of this year. "We are set to launch our cars in
India and the plans would be announced next month. The cars are likely to be
launched by the middle of this year," MDs of Jaguar and Land Rover told TOI
at the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show.
Phil Popham, MD of Land Rover, said the companies would have common
dealerships in India and begin direct retail from Mumbai before expanding to
other cities. "We are looking at dealerships in the top five major cities in
the first phase, though expansion beyond Mumbai would happen in a phased
manner," he said.
Land Rover has plans to offer its entire range in India, Popham said,
adding that the cars would come as completely-built units (CBUs) through the
import route, thus attracting cumulative duties of over 100%.
Global sales for Land Rover suffered last year, impacted by the slowdown
in the western markets, and closed 2008 at 187,000 units against 226,000
units in 2007. "While the first half was in line with our expectations,
recession spread right through in the second half of the year, leading to a
big decline," Popham said, adding that he expected "less volumes" than the
2008 levels this year.
On the prospects from the Indian market, he said the demand for luxury
cars was currently limited. "We understand that the premium end of the
market is still small. But we expect the market to grow," Popham said,
adding that sales could be expected only in a few hundreds "to start with."
Mike O'Driscoll, MD of Jaguar, also said that the market for luxury cars
in India was not very big now, though holding prospects for growth. "It may
initially be a smaller market to start with but we feel that the market has
huge potential. We are introducing cars in India for the long-term and
understand that it will take a few years to develop the brand," O'Driscoll
said.
Commenting on the high import duties in India, he said it was something
that was unavoidable. "It is like a fact of life and something we have to
deal with," he said. Asked whether the two brands would have synergies with
parent Tata Motors on the car retail front, the MDs said no such arrangement
was being looked into. "It will not be the case as these brands are
different to what they (Tata) sell," Popham said, though adding that Tata
Motors would be advising the companies in terms of India expansion plans.
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