One way or another, we're going to see a Tata vehicle here in the United States. Whether or not it's through the Jaguar/Land Rover brands or something actually wearing the Tata nameplate, India's top vehicle builder is moving aggressively to become a world player. To that end, Tata Motors has entered into a new deal with Chrysler, LLC to develop an electric version of Tata's Ace mini truck for sale in North America. Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars division (GEM) is working with Tata to import fully-assembled vehicles that meet all the appropriate U.S. regulations. The battery-operated Ace has successfully navigated the required safety tests, and they're reportedly ready for production. Tata wants to eventually export up to 50,000 vehicles to the US, but they've pegged the goal for 2008 at 10,000 units. This is definitely the year to keep an eye on Tata.
[Source: Reuters]
Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept
Spy Shots: Production Audi TT Clubsport Quattro
Chevy Camaro getting early unveil at Indy in September
James Garner recovering from mild stroke
VIDEO: God's ringtone is a V10-powered Audi R8
First Drive: 2009 Ford Escapes, more of almost everything
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
_thumbnail.jpg "Lamborghini Reventon unboxed in Las Vegas")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Johnson @ Jan 24th 2008 2:40PM
Wow, I can't wait to see how prestigious the new Jag will be! I'm sure everyone will be waiting for people in electric trucks and plastic cars to pull up and give them a thumbs up.
ronnie schreiber @ Jan 24th 2008 2:55PM
Ford Motor Company has a market cap of $13.08B and they're selling off Jaguar/LR for between 1 and 2 billion dollars.
While you denigrate Tata, remember that Tata has a market cap of $77B and if they wanted they could buy all of Ford.
I've been following the Indian and Chinese auto industries for the past couple of years and it looks like my prediction was true that an indigenous Indian car company will be selling vehicles in the US before an indigenous Chinese company.
John Johnson @ Jan 24th 2008 4:00PM
That doesn't mean the vehicles don't suck.
MemphisNET @ Jan 24th 2008 2:53PM
I'm trying to think of how this could be used.... but there must be someone screaming for this type of vehicle for them to bring it here.
Guenther @ Jan 24th 2008 4:04PM
Places screaming for these is anyone who needs a better golf cart (mousetrap). Like Calebe said- factories, College campuses (OCC used to have a little Daihatsu with turf tires running around), Resorts, Theme parks, etc. Anyone who needs something small, that can carry supplies, parts, garbage, whatever, needs it to operate indoors and out, on sidewalks,
Joe @ Jan 24th 2008 4:49PM
Ohio State's Campus is covered with small vehicles like this. GEM cars and trucks, Gators, golf carts, and small utility side by sides with snow plows and diggers mounted to them. They have hundreds.
Russell @ Jan 24th 2008 2:56PM
Lets see the crash test first.
Russell @ Jan 24th 2008 3:00PM
It might look like this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPpU5azjCB8
Guenther @ Jan 24th 2008 5:39PM
wow. just. WOW! I wonder what speed that was. I'm also amazed they were able to sell those here (in the US)
Calebe @ Jan 24th 2008 3:10PM
It's a NEV like the GEM, 25mph top speed for campus and business use in factories. I'm sure it will sell.
Mr. Blake @ Jan 24th 2008 3:28PM
And this is the company that is going to buy two British luxury marques. A company that makes electric trucks and $2500 cars. Too bad a BRITISH someone couldn't buy the most iconic British sports car company and the British company that makes the best sports utilities in the world.
rar @ Jan 24th 2008 3:45PM
Mr. Blake, I agree that a British someone should buy both companies. However your statement about the best suv is way off the mark. Please click on the link for the J.D. Powers quality ranking. Look who is on the bottom. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-06-06-ford-quality_N.htm
Mr. Blake @ Jan 24th 2008 3:50PM
Ahh, I should have known someone would lash out a LR after I said that. Rar, I was referring to the capability of the whole lineup and especially of the Defender, as well as the luxury benchmark set by the Range Rover.
jagman @ Jan 26th 2008 8:52AM
Correct. But who today is British in Britain? Not even the royal family is British, they´re Germans. That´s why they let BMW buy LandRover.
Stéphane Dumas @ Jan 24th 2008 3:39PM
I guess the talks with Mahindra then Autoblog mentionned in early January didn't go further
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/chrysler-and-mahindra-possibly-seeking-partnership/
TBlueMax @ Jan 24th 2008 4:03PM
The Physical Plant at my university has a dozen of these type of small, gas-powered trucklets that ferry all sorts of equipment across the ~1,400 acres of the campus. I see them most often with the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and groundskeeping crews. They seem to do what they do fairly well and would probably be just as effective and certainly less noisy as an EV.
tanooki2003 @ Jan 24th 2008 4:18PM
Please bring in a compact 4 door sport utility truck so I don't have to go through heck trying to import a Mitsubishi Triton with a 2.5L 4 cyl turbo diesel with common rail injection.
UH2L @ Jan 24th 2008 5:47PM
Tata is a huge corporation and they make many cars and SUV's for India as well as other markets, not just $2,500 Nanos. With all their expertise, the quality will come.
http://www.tata.com/0_about_us/index.htm
UH2L
http://www.thingsivenoticed.com
JESH @ Jan 25th 2008 9:42AM
btw, in India these trucks are usually powered by 2-cylinder diesel engines, not electric motors. That seems to be for export + maybe some emission restricted areas within India.
Sparrow @ Jan 25th 2008 4:44AM
I for one am happy that Tata is buying Jaguar, I see what Tata wants... Technology... I expect that you will see a factory for both Jag and LR in India very quickly.. have you seen the import tarrifs for cars into india! I would think that the US and Euro/world production would still be carried out in England untill we get past the indian assembled thing we seem to have... I expect most R&D will still be done in Euro and it will trikle down to the Tata models in time... they are different types of markets... sorry if this is off topic... and for the record I would not yet buy a Tata... yet... maybe in 2020?