Beyond it's acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover, and the eminent launch of the Nano, Tata is looking to acquire a stake in Pininfarina, the iconic design house that's been under some financial distress in recent years. Tata is aiming to take a minority holding in the firm, partnering up with the French industrial group, Bollore, with up to a 100-million euro capital increase. More details about the deal will be forthcoming in the next few months, but when Tata and Bollare take their stake, that will cut down the Pininfarina family's share from 55-percent to 30-percent. Here's hoping that Pininfarina's help will be enlisted for the second generation Nano.[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
James Garner recovering from mild stroke
VIDEO: God's ringtone is a V10-powered Audi R8
IIHS releases official results on the smart fortwo
Tragedy at LeMons: Send love and a little bit more
Officially Official: New Ferrari California exposed!
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Project Track Slut, Part One: Pick a weapon on the cheap
_thumbnail.jpg "Lamborghini Reventon unboxed in Las Vegas")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sw @ Apr 28th 2008 10:08AM
I wonder how long it's going to be before we see TATA cars in North America. They seem to be going full tilt into the auto industry at all levels.
imoore @ Apr 28th 2008 10:26AM
Not too long. I understand that Tata wants to sell the next generation Sumo SUV and Xenon Pickup here in the States within the next three years.I remember seeing spy photos of the Sumo last year, and it looks better than the current model. The Xenon went on sale in Europe and South Africa last year, and in India and Thailand earlier this year. Of course they must pass US crash and emissions tests, and the Xenon may have to be built in this country to escape trade tarriffs, but that may be just a small barrier for Tata to cross. It's a good thing thay are hooking up with Pininfarina, they can help Tata develop a decent midsize car to compete in the marketplace. The current stuff, the Indigo and Indica (formerly known as the CityRover, or as Jeremy Clarkson called it, the S****yRover), just wont cut it.
Todd @ Apr 28th 2008 10:25AM
So where is Tata getting all this money from?
Menice @ Apr 28th 2008 10:37AM
"the company does make a wide range of supplis - from planes to buildboards, from cars to electronics, from paper to frisbee's"
its almost scary how huge they are...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Group
VP @ Apr 28th 2008 10:47AM
The Tata's are the indian version of the Rockefeller's. There is not a field in which the tata's are not involved.
Zane @ Apr 28th 2008 10:51AM
Are they involved in prostitution and drugs? :D
J/k man..
imoore @ Apr 28th 2008 10:29AM
From all their subsidiaries (Tata Steel, Tetly Tea, etc.), technical support, and other outside activities (contract work for Boeing aircraft, and designing Chrysler's new website).
DJ @ Apr 28th 2008 10:32AM
Hmmm, the Jag F-type roadster designed by Pininfarina? Me like!
cxv @ Apr 28th 2008 10:55AM
Looks like they are making all the right moves.
Kayne001 @ May 5th 2008 1:07PM
yeah
time will tell though
d2d @ Apr 28th 2008 12:47PM
it seems that the tata group under Mr.Ratan Tata is under a global buying spree . there were recent reports in indian media that tata may buy some stake in fiat too !
J M C 3 @ Apr 28th 2008 1:03PM
Someone at TATA must have read my comment a few weeks back that they commission Pininfarina to design their Jaguars.
Pininfarina has the design chops to render a sensuous classic Jag design.
James @ Apr 28th 2008 3:06PM
Pity neither Toyota or Honda tried to buy Pininfarina. Both companies desperately lack the design talent Pininfarina could have provided. At the very least the Italians could have (gently, of course) hinted to the Japanese that they might need new eyeglasses.
Imagine what the designer of Ferraris could have done for the 2009 Pilot.
Rupert @ Apr 28th 2008 8:59PM
What is TATA trying to be the LVMH of the automotive world.
Jaguar, Land Rover, Pininfarina, and MV Agusta. What's next?