Autoblog

Jaguar gears up to produce small run of turbine-powered C-X75 supercars

Noah Joseph — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Jaguar

Jaguar has a bit of a tricky history with supercars. The only previous example it actually built was the XJ220, which remains an impressive specimen even 20 years later, even though it never quite lived up to what the original concept car promised those who put down their deposits. Then in 2010 the British automaker unveiled the C-X75 and our hearts stopped.

The show car packed an intriguing twin-turbine powerplant into an alluring svelte shape, which only begged the question: would Jaguar build it, and if so, would it incorporate such an experimental propulsion system?

We had what we thought was the full answer last year when Jaguar announced that it would indeed produce the C-X75, but that the turbines wouldn't make it to the road, replaced instead by a hybrid drivetrain including a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Disappointing, sure, but a little less so considering that the Williams F1 team would help develop the powertrain.

Now it seems that, while the hybrid turbo four will power most of the 250 examples of the C-X75 earmarked for production, a limited quantity will actually include micro-turbines as envisioned in the concept car. The jet engines (which will drive the rear wheels, so don't go expecting flames shooting out the back, Batmobile style) are reportedly being produced by the Bladon Jets Engineering Centre in Coventry - a company based near Jaguar's headquarters and partially owned by Jaguar's parent company Tata.

Although the turbines are only expected to produce 95 horsepower each (they are just a bit smaller than the ones you might find in a jet airplane), they need none of the cooling or lubrication systems required by traditional internal-combustion engines, leaving them lighter and easier to package - and making plenty of room for additional electric power to help the turbine-hybrid C-X75 hit 60 in just three seconds while returning exceptional fuel economy and emissions figures.

It'll be a few years still before this super-cat hits the road, but when it does, we're looking at something that will re-write the rule book even more than the XJ220 that came before.

Jaguar gears up to produce small run of turbine-powered C-X75 supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Land Rover Defender to be built in India?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Land Rover, India, Tata, Off-Road

When Tata's purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover began to appear inevitable, the question "Would you buy a Jaguar made in India?" was oft repeated. Yet it looks like Land Rover will be the first of the two brands to try to benefit from this kind of Anglo-Indian synergy: a report in Autocar states that the 2015 Land Rover Defender will be built at Tata's plant in Pune, India.

The Defender is a truly old school body-on-frame SUV that sells in small numbers compared to the rest of the Land Rover line. But it has benefitted from technology, some regulatory gymnastics and exemptions and, like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, a warm place in people's hearts. If it's going to be around, though, LR would like to move more of them. Building the next generation model in Pune - with final assembly of some examples in England, a reverse of what's done now with products like the knockdown Freelander 2 (read: LR2) - could give the Defender's bottom line the boost it needs, as well as close proximity to Middle Eastern and Asian markets.

It is expected that the next Tata Aria SUV will be close enough in dimensions and manufacturing to share the same facility with the the 2015 Defender. They will remain two distinct vehicles - the Defender will likely go on the T5 ladder chassis that underpins the Discovery/LR4 and Range Rover Sport, and is predicted to have the general features of the DC100 concept. The current Defender is slated to remain on sale until 2017, and will likely be built in Solihull, England until then.

Next Land Rover Defender to be built in India? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata recalling all pre-2012 Nano models over bad starter

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Recalls, Safety, India

Tata Motors has issued a recall for all Nano models manufactured between July 2009 and October 2011. The company will replace the vehicles' starter motors free of charge. And while the Indian automaker has declined to say just how many vehicles will be affected by the recall, local news reports have said as many as 145,000 Nano vehicles will receive a new starter. Tata says the recall has been underway for some time, noting it has already replaced somewhere around 50,000 starters to date. The entire recall program is expected to cost Tata around $20.8 million at current conversion rates.

The automaker has released an updated version of the Nano called the Nano 2012. The revised model is not included in the recall.

Tata hasn't seen the sort of sales success the company had hoped for with the world's least expensive new car. From labor unrest to perception issues to a wave of fires and safety upgrades, the Nano has had a hard row to hoe since birth.

Tata recalling all pre-2012 Nano models over bad starter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata Nano gets upgrades, looks to beat sluggish sales

Zach Bowman — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Etc., Hatchback, India

Tata is out to battle lukewarm demand for the company's Nano with a range of improvements to the world's least-expensive new vehicle. Engineers have upped the Nano's power and fuel efficiency while decreasing emissions at the same time. The vehicle's 624-cc engine now produces a whopping 37.5 horsepower, enough to help the machine tackle up to 30 percent road grades and reach a max speed of 65 mph. The company has also reworked the suspension on the Nano with a new anti-roll bar in the front as well as a redesigned steering mechanism.

More importantly, the Nano Standard now comes with power-assisted brakes. That nicety was only available on higher trims in the past. Inside, the Nano now wears new materials available in three colors: beige, black or gray, though buyers may now select from a range of 10 different exterior paints.

Tata is likely desperate to do something to improve the vehicle's sales. While the company originally projected that buyers would take home between 20,000 and 25,000 Nano vehicles a month, September only saw 1,200 units leave dealer lots. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Tata Nano gets upgrades, looks to beat sluggish sales

Tata Nano gets upgrades, looks to beat sluggish sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Tata Nano a failure?

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials, India, Tata

When the Indian conglomerate Tata announced the Nano in 2008, it promised an automotive revolution equivalent to the Model T. The $2,200 Nano would be priced at half the cost of its competition, and single-handedly make four-wheeled transportation ubiquitous in India. Well, that was the plan, anyway.

ForeignPolicy.com is reporting that some three years later the Nano hasn't even begun to live up to its billing. While Tata projected monthly sales of 20,000-25,000 cars, in August the factory shipped a mere 1,200. Despite an annual production capacity of 250,000 Nanos, the company has only managed to sell about 129,000 to date.

While new product failures are a dime a dozen in the auto industry, the homegrown Nano seemed like such a slam dunk, its failure is shocking. Yet FP says the Nano's biggest problem should have been easy to see: Nobody, not even those in developing countries, wants a car whose primary attribute is that it is cheap.

Nano sales have also been hurt by problems with Tata's dealer network and safety concerns after reports of cars catching on fire. Tata told FP that it is addressing these issues, and a new advertising campaign for the car is airing on national television. A Tata spokesman also noted that over 90 percent of Nano owners have reported being satisfied with their cars.

So is the Nano a failure? Certainly it's not the success that many predicted, but revolutions aren't usually as neat and tidy as Steve Jobs liked to make them. And even if all that talk about Tata exporting the cars to the U.S. is looking like utter nonsense today, we found things to like about the Nano when we drove one last year. We're willing to concede that the final chapter on Tata's people's car has yet to be written.

Is the Tata Nano a failure? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata finally shows off its $4.6M Nano Gold Plus

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Tata, Design/Style

Tata is looking to play with both sides of the automotive pricing coin. On one side, it has the Nano, which is arguably the least expensive new automobile on the planet. In its native India, the Nano can be had from around $2,500, and it's been reported that an updated version would run around $7,000 if sold in North America. Now, however, there is now a special new version of the Nano which raises costs a bit. How does $4.6 million sound?

The Tata family has produced this gold and jewel encrusted Nano as a celebratory ode to their Gold Plus jewelry stores. While a $4.6 million showpiece seems a bit much, it's not everyday your company celebrates its 5,000th anniversary.

This Goldmember-mobile is covered in 176 pounds of 22 karat gold. Add in 33 pounds of silver and over 10,000 precious gems and stones, and you have the bling ride to end all bling ride discussions. Let's hope they upgraded the powertrain to cope with all that extra weight, eh? Get a closer look at this one-off $4.6 million Nano by clicking through our gallery.

Tata finally shows off its $4.6M Nano Gold Plus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata CEO Forster steps down after only 18 months

Eric Loveday — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Jaguar, Land Rover, UK, India, Tata

Tata Motors has announced that its group chief executive officer, Carl-Peter Forster, resigned with immediate effect, only 18 months after joining the company.

Tata, India's leading maker of trucks and buses, and owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, says Forster resigned due to "unavoidable personal circumstances," but will remain a non-executive member of Tata Motors' board. Forster stated:

I deeply regret that my personal circumstances make it difficult for me to continue to perform the challenging duties of managing the thriving global activities of the Tata Motors Group with its main activities in India and the UK and increasingly in additional overseas markets.

Forster's departure comes as Tata Motors continues its lengthy search for a successor to Ratan Tata, who is set to retire soon as chairman of the sprawling conglomerate. Forster joined Tata in February 2010 after leaving Opel, with his focus on turning around the then-struggling Jaguar-Land Rover division. Tata Motors is currently seeking Forster's replacement.

Continue reading Tata CEO Forster steps down after only 18 months

Tata CEO Forster steps down after only 18 months originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata to follow World's Cheapest Car with World's Cheapest Home?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Tata is out to offer the world a cheaper way to live. In addition to producing the least expensive vehicle available anywhere, the Indian company has its sights set on cranking out a flat-pack home for the princely sum of $720. According to MSNBC, the domicile boasts a heady 215 square feet of living space and can be erected in as little as a week. The walls are hewn from coconut or jute fiber, and as such, the building is only good for around 20 years of use. As such, Tata doesn't envision the small homes as suitable for city construction.

Instead, the low-cost houses could be ideal for putting a roof over the heads of homeless or as temporary structures for government agencies. The houses are set to hit the market in the next six to eight months. A prefab kit will also contain necessities like windows, roofs and doors, and the company is already drawing up plans for a more spacious model with solar panels and a tidy veranda.

Tata to follow World's Cheapest Car with World's Cheapest Home? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rajasthan, India offering free Tata Nano in exchange for your sterilization

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., India, Tata

2011 Tata Nano - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a 2011 census, India has a population of 1,210,193,422 people. That's 17.47 percent of the world's population living on just 2.3 percent of the planet. The only place more crowded is a new In-N-Out at lunch time. Health officials in India are looking for novel ways to drum up interest in sterilization clinics, and one in particular has resorted to prize giveaways. The top draw? A new Tata Nano.

According to The Times of India, Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan is offering a variety of prizes for men who come into their clinic and put the clamps on their own private ball state swim team. Besides the Nano, prizes include motorcycles, TVs and kitchen stand mixers.

Rajasthan, India offering free Tata Nano in exchange for your sterilization originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata to double Nano production amidst sales uptick

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Tata Nano has enjoyed an increase in sales in the last couple of months, reportedly sparking Tata Motors to double production of its budget-minded microcar this fiscal year. In March, the Indian automaker moved 8,707 examples, pulling to within spitting distance of its 9,000-unit sales record for July, 2010.

After a summer selling record numbers, the Nano's sales plummeted to just 589 in November, following numerous reports that alleged that the cars were mysteriously bursting into flames. After the mysterious fires, Tata offered free extended warranties on the cars, up to 90 percent financing on easy terms, and a comprehensive maintenance plan at just 99 rupees a month (about $2.25 U.S.).

The incentives seem to have struck a chord with buyers, and the Nano is right back where it was a year ago. Currently, Tata is building 9,000-10,000 cars a month at its Sanand, India plant, and had planned to increase that rate to 15,000 this fiscal year. In light of the sales spike, though, that number was bumped to 18,000 to 20,000 units a month.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Photos copyright (C)2011 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: The Hindu Business Line]

Report: Tata to double Nano production amidst sales uptick originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata hopes to offer $7,000 car in U.S.

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, India, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Tata Nano finally ready to take on U.S. roads? Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, believes so, but the car won't be the same $2,500 vehicle found in India. Instead, according to The New York Times, Tata says the American market will get a car built to be competitive here yet still priced well below the competition.

It seems the North American-spec Nano could cost between $7,000 and $8,000. Will that be enough to lure buyers into their local Tata dealer's showrooms? If gas prices keep climbing, consumers could be attracted by the Nano if the Americanized version can achieve something along the lines of the 52 miles per gallon city/62 miles per gallon highway fuel economy that the current model achieves.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Photos Copyright (C)2011 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: The New York Times]

Report: Tata hopes to offer $7,000 car in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata Pixel given European green light

Aaron Richardson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Tata, Diesel

2011 Tata Pixel Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tata Motors has reportedly approved the Tata Pixel, a microcar concept it showed off at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, for production. The minute Pixel is advertised as the most efficiently-packaged four-seater in the world. It comes in at just under 10 feet long, and is nearly a foot shy of the Tata Nano's overall length.

Assuming the report from Autocar is accurate, the Pixel will take the place of the previously-proposed Nano Europa once the doors have been converted to traditionally-opening units and the gauges have been engineered.

The Pixel will be powered by the Nano's 60-horsepower, 1.2-liter diesel, which will be mounted under the back seats, turning a five-speed gearbox. No word yet on when Tata plans to have the car on sale, but it seems to be pushing through quickly.

Gallery: Tata Pixel Concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Tata Pixel given European green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself

Aaron Richardson — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Hatchback, Tata, Diesel

Tata Pixel Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tata has revealed its Euro city car concept in Geneva today and it's a trick little piece. First off, Tata says it is the most efficiently-packaged four-seater in the world, comfortably seating four regulation-size adults in a car just 10 feet long.

Even more trick is the car's zero turning radius system, which, in simple terms, rotates the rear wheels in separate directions to make parking as easy as possible in tight spaces. According to Tata, the system works with the help of something called a "Zero Turn turoidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission. Right. The effect is that the outside rear wheel spins forward while the inside wheels spins backward, creating a pivot point.

In keeping with the modern microcar trend, Tata claims that the Pixel will return more than 60 mpg and only releases 89 grams of C02 per kilometer. The efficiency comes by way of a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel, which, though it isn't a full hybrid, employs stop-start technology and regenerative battery charging.

Could we be looking at a blueprint for a future Nano? Perhaps more in form factor than in specific technologies, but either way, this is a nifty looking little space egg.

Gallery: Tata Pixel Concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: Tata]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself

Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata pours $15M into project researching water as fuel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Earnings/Financials, Tata

The lure of extracting hydrogen from water in a somewhat real-time fashion in sufficient quantities to power an automobile has so far been a complete dead-end pursuit. One of the biggest problems is that it takes more energy to release the hydrogen from its water-tight bonds than is actually returned by the resulting hydrogen.

But those basic laws of physics haven't stopped scientists with well-funded checkbooks from trying. The latest endeavor comes from Daniel Nocera of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is being funded by Indian businessman Ratan Tata, who, among other things, heads the global automaker that bears his name. At this time, the total grant comes in at $15 million.

As intriguing as all of this sounds, it bears mentioning that water-powered cars have repeatedly failed in their missions (see here) of offering nearly free fuel for all.

Take the story of the MDI's air car. In 2007, Tata signed a deal with MDI to bring the air-powered car to market and the companies said in early 2008 that the car would require nearly two years of work. We have heard little about it since then except a name change to FlowAir and a lot of skepticism that it would ever see the light of day at all. Will Tata's hydrogen bet fare any better? Thanks to Matteo and Roy B. for the tips!

[Sources: Sify News, ANSA.IT | Image: AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade]

Report: Tata pours $15M into project researching water as fuel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why, yes, that is a Tata Nano covered in pure gold

Noah Joseph — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, India, Tata, Design/Style, Luxury

Tata Nano Gold Plus by Titan Industries - Click above for image gallery

Try to imagine the most basic car on the road, and you'll likely conjure up images of the Tata Nano. The Citroën 2CV of our time, the Nano was conceived as bare-bones, bargain-basement transport for the masses. But while it makes the rest of us wonder how much our own cars are really worth, sales of the diminutive budget car have been lagging in the wake of safety concerns after cars were reported to be spontaneously combusting due to bad wiring and such.

To drum up enthusiasm for the Nano, Tata has brought in one of its subsidiaries, Titan Industries, to give the car a more luxe appearance in the form of gold and jewels. Celebrating the 5,000th anniversary of Indian jewelry, Tata and Titan launched a public campaign to solicit designs for a bedazzled Nano. Thirteen designs came in, with the winner you see here chosen just a few days ago. The conspicuous one-off will be crafted out of pure gold by Titan at its facility in Bagalore. Have a closer look at the winning design, along with a couple of the runners-up, in the gallery below.

Gallery: Tata Nano Gold Plus by Titan Industries

[Source: International Business Times]

Why, yes, that is a Tata Nano covered in pure gold originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, India, Tata

She loves the new Tata Nano in the driveway - Click above to watch the video after the break

If small equals cute, the Tata Nano might be the cuddly-wuddliest little car in the world. Sadly, that cuteness isn't necessarily translating into sales at the level the Indian automaker was planning for. Hence, advertisements.

While Tata usually veers towards the humor side of the advertising coin, for its first Nano commercial, Tata has decided to dance upon the heartstrings of the Indian audience, and rather successfully we might add. 'Course, we're not Indian, and no, those weren't tears - we just had something in our eye...

Click on past the break to watch the Tata Nano advertisement, where you'll see an adorable little girl with too much eye makeup asking her grandmother when their new microcar will make it home. As you'll see in the video, the Nano impresses all who see it on its journey from dealership to neighborhood. And it finally gets a little eye makeup of its own. Aww...

[Source: YouTube via Indian Autos Blog]

Continue reading Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad

Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata Nano sales plunge to just 589 units in November

Chris Shunk — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, India, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Tata Nano was such a hot commodity when it entered the Indian market that Tata Motors felt compelled to hold a lottery to determine the first 100,000 customers. A reported 70,000 copies of the $2,500+ econobox have been sold to date, but November apparently didn't budge that number much.

Bloomberg reports that only 589 Nano models were sold in November; a minuscule total for a mass-market car. Tata CEO Carl-Peter Forster reportedly blames a lack of financing options as the reason customers aren't buying. Forster claims that the Nano is popular with customers who currently use a bike or motorcycle for transportation, and the feeling is that banks fear that extending a loan to a lower income buyer could bring increased risk of default.

But while bank loans are one problem, another issue could stem from the fact that the Nano has been in the news for catching fire. That's definitely not a desirable feature, and we're thinking that customers who plunk down their life savings for their first vehicle don't want their low-cost car to turn into a pricey car-b-que. The 'no loans' theory sounds even less likely after hearing that overall Tata sales in November were 54,622, up one percent year-over-year. And the icing on the cake? Tata has also raised the price of the Nano twice over the past few months; $198 in October and four percent back in July. That's about $300 more than the car sold for at launch.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Report: Tata Nano sales plunge to just 589 units in November originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nano fires prompt Tata to offer free safety upgrade, insists it's not a recall

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:44:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, India, Tata

Tata insists this move is not a recall, yet the Indian automaker is offering a free "safety upgrade" to the 70,000 folks who have purchased a Nano. This comes in response to a rash of Nano fires that were caused by various reasons. According to Tata, the vehicles that caught fire had individual problems not found on other currently-not-on-fire models. The burnt cars were investigated and the fingers were pointed at installed "foreign electrical equipment" or "foreign materal left on the exhaust system."

Owners of the Nano can bring their car in to the nearest Tata dealership, where service techs will install additional safety protection in the exhaust area and to the electrical system.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Nano fires prompt Tata to offer free safety upgrade, insists it's not a recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC: Ratan Tata successor sought

Zach Bowman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, India, Tata

Rumors of Ratan Tata's retirement from the international corporation he helms as CEO have been buzzing around the internet for over a year, but they've recently been lent a little credence. According to BBC News, Tata Group has assembled a five-person panel to find a suitable successor to the company's throne. It had previously been suggested that the 79-year-old Tata would retire by the end of 2012. The panel hopes to locate a new CEO by March of next year, providing a bit of overlap between the incoming and outgoing regimes. In the past, Tata Group has kept the boss's seat within the family, though there is some speculation that a few outsiders are favored for the post.

BBC News reports that other media outlets have pointed to Noel Tata, Ratan Tata's half brother and head of the Tata Group's international operations, as a strong candidate for the CEO position. Other possibilities include Arun Sarin, who once headed Vodofone, and Nusli Wadia, a textiles chairman. At this point, it remains unclear whether Ratan Tata will retain some influence over the corporation he helped save from financial doom post-retirement or if he'll leave the decision making to his successor. Either way, the next few months should be interesting for the company.

[Source: BBC News | Image: AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade]

BBC: Ratan Tata successor sought originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: 2011 Tata Nano CX - Driving the world's cheapest car

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, India, Quick Spins

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

People love the idea of super-cheap transportation. Two generations ago, Volkswagen captured the world's attention with the Beetle (known originally as "The People's Car"), but when people finally drove the rear-engined VW, they realized it was more than just a cheap car - it was remarkably fun to drive.

India's Tata Motors picked up on the people's car idea several years ago. Motorbikes and pedal bikes are the go-to transportation options for millions in India, which presented an opportunity. But with the average price of a new car in the U.S. hovering around $30,000, an inconceivable sum in the developing world, Tata would have to do something very different. The tiny Nano was the result. It's currently on sale in India starting at around $2,500. That sound you hear is over a billion people cheering because they can now envision themselves owning transportation with a roof that they don't have to pedal.

The pint-sized sedan wowed crowds at its New Delhi introduction in 2008 and Tata began exporting the Nano throughout the developing world. Speculation swirled that the company would eventually target the U.S. after the car was put on display at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, but do we really want it here?

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2011 Tata Nano CX - Driving the world's cheapest car

Quick Spin: 2011 Tata Nano CX - Driving the world's cheapest car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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