Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Etc., Earnings/Financials, India, Tata
Tata Motors sales plunge by nearly half

Even when you (intend to) make the cheapest brand-new car in the world, you can't escape an economic downturn. Global jitters and year-end hemming and hawing have conspired to slice Tata's December sales figures nearly in half compared to a year ago. December is a traditionally slow month for auto sales as buyers try to put off expenditures until the next year (when incentives are more attractive on existing stock), but even accounting for the bargain hunters, this is a major drop.
Everyone, everywhere is down, and Tata Motors stock has taken a beating thanks to the economy and costly external issues like plant troubles. That said, recent interest rate cuts have buoyed company shares in hopes that the Nano (not to mention Saint CarBuyer) will soon arrive, and if nothing else, they still have the Indica's longevity to celebrate.
Gallery: Tato Nano - Live from Geneva
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 10:35AM (1/05/2009)
Land Rover and Jaguar might seem like a big drain now.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:21AM (1/05/2009)
The sentence "Land Rover must seem like a drain now" is nearly always an appropriate one. BMW had to sell Land Rover because it started to put them in a difficult financial situation too. And of course Ford didn't hold it long either. The only question is, where does Land Rover end up after Tata? With the Chinese?
Mike 10:49AM (1/05/2009)
I swear, if I open autoblog to see that ugly ass red monstrosity again, I'm going to freak.
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xcrunk 10:53AM (1/05/2009)
That is so hot...
Just tint the windows and get some spinner hubcaps.
Sah-weeeeeeeet!
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Avinash machado 10:58AM (1/05/2009)
Somebody should put a Hayabusa engine in the Nano. Will be a blast to drive.
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petee209 11:16AM (1/05/2009)
I bet a hayabusa is worth more than this entire car on its own.
Mr. Luke 11:40AM (1/05/2009)
And get some real wheels on it!
why not the LS2LS7? 11:52AM (1/05/2009)
They have a premium wheels options. You can tell them because they feature 4 lugs!
McLovin 12:32PM (1/05/2009)
Yeah... It'll be about as fun to drive as a shopping cart with a Hayabusa motor.
McLovin 12:33PM (1/05/2009)
@LS7...
I don't know if you heard Clarkson's comment about the Nano. "This must be the premium model because it doesn't have a donkey in front of it."
216 11:09AM (1/05/2009)
Golf Cart?
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ted 11:34AM (1/05/2009)
Hey, my two wheel handtruck has those same tires!
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Mr. Luke 11:40AM (1/05/2009)
LMAO! And the same interior quality.
pmiddle5 1:25PM (1/05/2009)
Prob better crash standards as well.
dukeisduke 1:24PM (1/05/2009)
I want to see some pictures of the engine compartment. Assuming it has one.
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ron 1:29PM (1/05/2009)
Paint that thing Mercedes "elephant grey" (remember that color from several decades ago?) and park it in the midst of pack of horney male elephants and see how long it takes for it to get "mounted"!
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Other Man 4:52PM (1/05/2009)
Well, here's to a Chinese-owned Jag and LR!
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