Fresh from a management beef-up, Tata Motors is all set to strengthen its global play with a vengeance. The company, according to vice-chairman Ravi Kant, is embarking upon its second globalisation journey to enter new markets in Latin America, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Middle East, Russia and Poland.
The company recently appointed German Carl-Peter Forster, a veteran of BMW and General Motors, as its group CEO, and Ralf Speth took over as the new CEO of JLR, with old-timer Prakash Telang heading the company?s India operations.
?We are looking at a fairly good presence internationally. By international, I don?t mean to say that we will be present across all geographies, but we will be present in chosen geographies and be recognised as a respectable brand in them,? Kant told FE in an exclusive interaction at the Geneva Motor Show, which began on Tuesday.
South Asia has traditionally been a strong market for Tata Motors, but now it is looking at newer markets, Kant said. On the domestic front, the company continues as a strong player in the commercial vehicle segment and is currently reviewing its strategy on how to strengthen its presence in the passenger car market where it currently has only one hatchback to offer: the Indica.
Regarding product development for the overseas market, Kant said Tata Motors would launch an electric version of its Nano small car in the European market in two to three years. The company is showcasing the vehicle at Geneva.
He said in the first phase, the company would launch the Nano electric in the UK and Scandinavia. Without divulging the price of the car, Kant stated, ?We are price conscious and the pricing of the car will be in keeping with that philosophy.?
The company has already displayed the Tata Nano Europa at last year?s Geneva Motor Show and expects to launch in select European countries in a couple of years. Earlier this year at the Auto Expo in New Delhi, company chairman Ratan Tata had said Tata Motors is looking to launch the Nano in the US in five years.
Kant also said that domestic bookings of the Nano would be completed by year-end. However, the launch of fresh bookings would depend on how quickly the company is able to ramp up its plant at Sanand in Gujarat. ?We are starting trial production at the Sanand plant in the next couple of months.?
Speaking on JLR–where the company has faced investor flak for its costly acquisition–Kant said the focus is on cost management, cash management and market speed.
?We have some good products in the market and would now strengthen them in the next five years, ? he said. With JLR having weathered the global meltdown, Kant said Tata Motors? recent profitable consolidated results are a sign of the improving market conditions.