India's Tata Motors interested in Jaguar and Land Rover
It doesn't seem that anyone else has shown interest in Jaguar or Land Rover – some rumored suitors have outright denied any interest – but Indian industry giant Ratan Tata is contemplating adding the luxury marques to his Tata Motors unit. Tata has set his advisory bloodhounds after the business case of making Ford an offer for the brands, which could fetch $1.5 billion together.
It seems antithetical considering Tata Motors push to develop the world's cheapest car with a $2,500 price tag. The last Land Rover we drove was thirty-eight times that expensive. It would certainly be a nice property for the conglomerate Tata Sons, parent to the automaking concern, to take on. There are more and more folks worldwide newly flush with cash and looking for cars with some curb appeal. No word has been forthcoming from Tata, rumored to have signed a confidentiality agreement with Ford recently, and Ford also offered no comment.
[Source: Telgraph.co.uk]
Thanks for the tip, Raj!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr. Oak 12:40PM (7/19/2007)
Sell, Sell!!!!!
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Mr. Oak 12:42PM (7/19/2007)
I guess there really is a sucker born every minute.
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Avinash machado 12:42PM (7/19/2007)
I had also sent you a tip about this just a few hours ago.
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Dan Roth 12:44PM (7/19/2007)
Raj's tip came in last night, when the post was written
Avinash machado 12:50PM (7/19/2007)
Thanks Dan. Sorry for the mistake.
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Nick 1:01PM (7/19/2007)
hmmm... Two luxury english brands and one budget indian brand, probably one of the most strange combinations one could think of. But that aside, on Fords part where extra cash is practically non-exsistant, if there is somebody who is activly looking to purchase jaguar and landrover it's time to sell. It really makes you wonder what jaguars and land rovers would look like in the future with some indian fusion, it certainly outgoing, i'll give it that.
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Rocket Punch 1:07PM (7/19/2007)
You do realize by saying "budget Indian brand", you are implying that there is also a luxury Indian brand in India.
dorf 1:35PM (7/19/2007)
Good, I hope they buy it since they have years of experince in vehicle manufacturing. Plus it's kind of appropiate that an Indian company should take over car companies that were once the 'Crown Jewels' of the English car manufacturers.
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John R 2:36PM (7/19/2007)
Ah...a sort of reversal of the East India Company
JC3 1:29PM (7/19/2007)
what's a Tata?When You go to the dealership do You ask..."How much are Your Tatas?"
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aliasfox 1:35PM (7/19/2007)
I think you need to go ask your mother what Tatas are...
JC3 1:44PM (7/19/2007)
Is that what You did?
aliasfox 2:21PM (7/19/2007)
Nah, I asked the pretty lady on the street and the next thing I know I have a bunch of ring indentations on my face...
paul34 5:17PM (7/19/2007)
Ahh ignorance. Gotta love it.
JC3 8:40PM (7/19/2007)
I ain ignon.
Colin Smith 2:10PM (7/19/2007)
Just before world oil prices go through the roof and these cars become internationally unsaleable. Sell now Ford!
Oh, and design some economical cars for the future;)
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mavkato 2:03PM (7/19/2007)
i know i would personally like to see more tatas on the road! (sorry couldn't resist)
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Mehul Kamdar 2:41PM (7/19/2007)
After their acquisition of Corus, the Tatas have become one of the world's five largest steel manufacturers. They are probably looking at adding value to the steel overcapacity that they now have considering that the steel industry is facing a bit of a glut these days and this might be a way for them to add value to their steel. It would be interesting, though, to watch how future Jaguar and Land Rover cars go under their ownership because both marques use huge amounts of aluminium on their vehicles.
On a different note, the Tatas were one of the companies that were in line to acquire Lotus some years ago but Proton ended up owning that marque because India's then socialist government did not allow the Tatas to buy Lotus. They are a lot wealthier as a company now, and they have learned a thing or two about buying and managing prestige brands properly with Forbes, Forbes, Campbell and Co and Tetley doing very well under their stewardship. That said, building and selling top quality cars is going to be far more difficult though it is good to see someone try to save Jaguar and Land Rover. Both marques deserve to be doing well and I hope SOMEONE pulls this off.
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John 3:41PM (7/19/2007)
Personally I'm awaiting Tata's new "Bodacious" model...
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abang 4:40PM (7/19/2007)
As they say in India, with Indian made cars, everything makes noise except the horn.
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