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It's becoming increasingly apparent that India's largest automaker Tata cannot be stopped. On the verge of finalizing a deal to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, Tata is now rumored to be interested in buying a stake in one of the most beloved performance marques of all time: Ferrari. We stress that this is a rumor, because it stems from a quote given by Tata's chief Ratan Tata to Italy's L'Espresso in which he reportedly said that he's always dreamt of being a fighter pilot (takeover of Bob Lutz?) and participating in the shareholding of Ferrari.
The reason this rumor has some legs is that Tata already has an established relationship with Ferrari's parent company Fiat. It's on the board of Fiat and has some engine supply deals with the Italian automaker. Fiat owns an 85% stake in Ferrari with an option to purchase an additional 5%. Could Tata, the maker of the world's least expensive auto, one day have a stake in the company that builds some of the world's most expensive and exotic autos? We wouldn't bet against Tata at this point.
[Source: L'Espresso via Motor Authority, Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
nikola @ Mar 7th 2008 11:09AM
I say yes! And then convert the entire Ferrarri fleet to run on air to stick it to these oil monsters!
wrussi @ Mar 7th 2008 11:25AM
i think the big 2.5 should learn a lesson from tata?
sw @ Mar 7th 2008 11:55AM
Tata and the big 3 can't really be compared at this point in time. Tata isn't building a car for the western wold, simply buying into it. The company that the big 3 should learn from is Toyota. Toyota has a business model they should try to emulate. I know they make boring cars, but they make uber reliable cars (yes, I know, engine sludge etc etc, but that's small potatoes in the grand scheme) at a profit margin that makes the big 3 accountants seethe with envy. To further prove my point, Hyundai's been using the same business model and they've come leaps and bounds ahead of some already well established car companies.
Naveed @ Mar 7th 2008 11:28AM
Tata is already doing a great job of showing up their British colonial fathers by taking Jag and Land Rover, and them taking a stake in Ferrari would be a terrific example of the colonized becoming colonizers.
almost Dr. G.. @ Mar 7th 2008 12:06PM
thats way too deep for most people who visit this site but i agree with you 100%. funny how economics and the world turns.
DesiAuto @ Mar 7th 2008 11:29AM
I actually don't care who owns the exotics. The reason I cared about Tata taking over Jag and LR and for that reason any british business taken over by Indian business house is because that's a perfect sign of how far India has come as a country after freeing herself. Obviously country still has a long way to go but you can't ignore this milestone.
On the other hand, I would be really proud if an Indian (and/or American as well) auto company implements the soultion that takes oil completely out of the equation.
Alex @ Mar 7th 2008 12:03PM
Now this is just the opinion of a guy who knows nothing about global market economy, but shouldn't Tata first see how well they do with the Jaguar and Land Rover brands before they delve into another auto company? again, i know nothing on the subject...
IndusCreed @ Mar 7th 2008 12:12PM
I know how to flip burgers, I just took up a job making tacos....shouldnt I wait and watch to see how well I make tacos before I start looking for a job at Pizza hut..
again i know nothing about Global economy.....
Drew @ Mar 7th 2008 12:16PM
The East India company was the best thing to ever happen to India. All this talk of "revenge" is pretty lame.
DesiAuto @ Mar 7th 2008 2:06PM
I am sure you think slavery is the best thing that happend to african-americans.
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Really, how much f***ed up a person's mind can be?
Vik @ Mar 7th 2008 6:35PM
Drew- yes, you're right. Indians weren't capable of forming the infrastructure and the business models and relations required to compete in the global economy if it weren't for the Brits. It is because of the British that the Indians are where they are, not because of Indian ingenuity.
Now go cry in your morning tea while reality sets in and your superiority complex crumbles.
The Luigiian @ Mar 7th 2008 8:31PM
Drew, DesiAuto and Vik:
I think you're all partially correct. The British supplied the Indians with infrastructure, and the Indians used that infrastructure to begin building useful products and taking back some of the resources (money, natural resources, etc.) that the British had taken from them. A bit lopsided in favor of the British, possibly, but to say the British did nothing for India is just as bad as saying the British are the reason that India is now becoming a global power.
I look forward to a day when the Indians are finally able to recover from the British's economic abuses, and hope for the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere that they do not respond by taking all of our money in the same matter that we took theirs.
tamoghno @ Mar 7th 2008 12:17PM
if my memory don't betray me , Tata's chief Ratan Tata is actually a trained fighter pilot.
one thing most people dont know is that tata is most respected india company , it is NOT just as a cheap company. aside from building the cheapest car , they have some pretty good other cars like Indica , indigo , safari , that compete well with other cars of its class.
sw @ Mar 7th 2008 1:07PM
Besides, being one of the top, if not the top supplier of steel pretty much ensures there's a little bit of Tata in every car.
Ashish @ Mar 7th 2008 3:06PM
that is correct .. as i recall ..
he flew an f-15 or f-22 at one of the air-force shows in India ..
just for kicks .. i know its odd .. the jet being USAF .. but i think boeing let him flew the jet ..
bobby @ Mar 7th 2008 1:11PM
It's just going to be a small stake in Ferrari if anything. Probably not much say on the board either.
Either way, I applaud Tata for taking bold steps to diversify their auto holdings.
Leaf @ Mar 7th 2008 1:48PM
What's the deal with the MS Paint jobs on Autoblog photos lately?
b.wood @ Mar 7th 2008 2:30PM
thats clearly Photoshop.. MS Paint leaves a pixelated look. :p
b.wood @ Mar 7th 2008 2:27PM
lol... "Part XVXVXIIIXVX"
DesiAuto @ Mar 7th 2008 3:12PM
F-15, 16, 17, 22 were build by LM not boeing.
He flew F-16 last year when USAF was in India for war exercises with IAF.