- by John Reilly
Rover takes on Tata distribution
11 March 2003: Normally, India's Tata company would not get much attention at Geneva, although it has shown cars here for some years. But this year there was more attention being paid in the wake of the announcement that the company's Indica supermini was going to be sold in Europe by MG Rover, which lacks a small car of its own.
Tata is massive in India and has the ability to be a major player in the Asian auto industry. The new model for Geneva was a station wagon version of the company's Indigo compact sedan, but many of the visitors to the stand were looking at the little Indica four-door and wondering how MG Rover would change it to sell under their brand.
Earlier this week, Phoenix Venture Holdings Ltd, owners of MG Rover Group, are to distribute the Tata Safari off-roader and Loadbeta pick-up trucks in the UK and Irish markets.
Tata utility vehicles have already established a niche presence in the market, based on their value-for-money. New upgraded versions are on their way.
The Safari is a 4WD SUV powered by a 90bhp 2-litre turbodiesel engine,
The vehicles will be distributed through a selection of both MG Rover and Tata dealerships, and the new distribution arrangements will be implemented in the next few months.
Tata Engineering is an industrial conglomerate in India, with interests in mining, hotels, aircraft manufacturing, chemicals, consumer products and IT/telecommunications.
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