Is it Possible to export a TATA car to USA?

esteem_lover · 5th September 2006, 14:25

guys,

if my memory serves me right, i do remember that a few years back, the TATAMobile was selected for the Scottish fire brigade.

And there are ambys in good ol' London town too.
so, i guess we are getting there. so far,we have covered the European markets, now we have to penetrate the US Markets. read this guys.

http://sid.iisc.ernet.in/tml.html

cheers

elf · 5th September 2006, 14:40

You guys are getting it butt backwards! Please read the entire thread, not just a coupla posts.

Simply having a few cars available does not constitute entry into a market. What's needed is full fleged company support, with dealers, spares depots, after sales service, finance options, & mainly - a desire to buy from the public.

Seeing a coupla Revas & a buncha Ambys in England, the aforementioned Tatamobile in Scotland, does not constitute a presence.

Also, my point has been that although these companies (Tata & Mahindra) are improving, they still have a long way to go before they can make a full fleged entry into global markets.

malgudi · 5th September 2006, 14:44

Of what I remember, Sometime back Tata had a alliance with MG Rover group of UK and under this alliance Rover was selling Tata Indica rebadged as CityRover in UK. I think it would be lot easier and hassle free if you try and import this CityRover to USA and maybe you can buy Indica badges from India and replace them on the cityrover and you would have your Indica. will try and find out the link for this.....

here is the link....
http://www3.mg-rover.com/rover_GB_en...cityrover.html

esteem_lover · 5th September 2006, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by elf

You guys are getting it butt backwards! Please read the entire thread, not just a coupla posts.

Simply having a few cars available does not constitute entry into a market. What's needed is full fleged company support, with dealers, spares depots, after sales service, finance options, & mainly - a desire to buy from the public.

Seeing a coupla Revas & a buncha Ambys in England, the aforementioned Tatamobile in Scotland, does not constitute a presence.

Also, my point has been that although these companies (Tata & Mahindra) are improving, they still have a long way to go before they can make a full fleged entry into global markets.

of course, i was joking

Bullfrog · 5th September 2006, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by malgudi

Of what I remember, Sometime back Tata had a alliance with MG Rover group of UK and under this alliance Rover was selling Tata Indica rebadged as CityRover in UK.

This alliance is off now. Reports were that Ratan Tata was extremely furious when Rover management started talking to a Chinese firm for the take over of Rover (which eventually happened) behind his back.

Have seen Rover City in the exhibit stalls and have to accept it looks great compared to our Indica here. Had a ex-Rover colleague of mine who told that The Indica performed very well in the tests, but the hurried nature of Rover managers who wanted to have a small car as soon as possible on UK roads made that product to fail in terms of not being able to mature in terms of quality. Even in India the early Indicas were plagued with problems right ?

If in Europe customers face problems like what was faces by Indian customers, you can be assured there will be no market for it. Rover (Its 'Over' now) and a host of other British car manufacturers survive on small numbers because of the patriotism factor (discussed elsewhere in this thread)

regards
Bullfrog

elf · 5th September 2006, 16:22

Thank you Bullfrog.

This is exactly the point I was trying to make.

99w210 · 5th September 2006, 20:34

MPower, yes, I would drive around a TATA Indica around DC. Its the unique factor that I like. ( nobody else has it ). I drive an E320 in usa. But, when I bought a car in india, I was contemplating between a palio diesel and an Indica Diesel and I went with Indica Diesel ( V2 redesigned ) -- One of the major decision factors was the "made in India" tag. I know its a little inferior - but they have improved a lot and are improving.

ELF, you got me wrong, I was trying to say the same thing as you said, the protectionism ( in the form of taxes + excise etc ) in india is not putting any pressure on indian companies to be innovative -- they just become lazy. - We are in agreement here.

Also, the reason I say Indica is because of the sudden demand in USA for sub-compact cars with High Fuel Effeciency. ( Because of the high gas costs, there is a sudden demand for sub-compact cars like Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris -- they are similar to Indica ). SUV sales are taking a real hit in the US Market and most automobile companies are scrambling to get fuel effecient cars into the market as soon as possible.

elf · 5th September 2006, 21:14

Then now would be a great time for the Indica to enter... if it were competent enough!

You already know my thoughts on this.

I would like to thank one & all for hearing (reading?) out my arguments patiently & responding to them in the right spirit.
I have / had no intention of insulting anybody or hurting their feelings, just wanted to get my point across.

condor · 5th September 2006, 21:37

guys, while you discuss about M&M [and Tata] making it into the US market, just like M&M quite successfully got it's tractors in there, and Tata atleast got it's cars on UK tarmac ...

please remember that just because M&M has an encouraging response to their tractors, they will never make it with any of their road-going vehicles in their current and near-future avatars. And neither will Tata. Not in any significant numbers so as to be counted.

A tractor is essentially not a road-going vehicle. It's a farm equipment. Meant to be driven at slow speeds, in farms, doing some farm specific work. Also, if these tractors are getting such good response there, it is also because they are being used they way tractors should be: not being used on roads.

Just like a Indica isnt an off-roader. A 4x4 Scorp may do a little soft off-roading, but that's about it.

A passenger car has a different set of requirements, and neither M&M nor Tata have it in them to make it to US roads, yet.

prasadee · 5th September 2006, 21:46

According to a report in AutoWeek, the Scorpio may be available as early as 2007.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116391

condor · 5th September 2006, 21:57

I dont think that article mentioned anything concrete about what set of wheels.

And, quoting from the same article:
"What this means to you: If the Indians want to sell low-priced vehicles to the Americans, they'll have to get in line behind the Koreans, the Chinese and the Russians. "

And just in case I havent said this earlier .. I wish they do well.

It will be good to see the home-grown stuff take on what the land of the first car has to offer. But before that, hope they both can satisfy those like me who still are looking at their models over what's been brought in from across the seas .. and satisfy the many others who have found their stuff not as good as what's come in into the country in recent years.

Mpower · 5th September 2006, 22:31

There are various Chinese companies waiting in the wings to export to US. All have issues currently with quality, emissions, crash-test requirements etc. Indica will be in the same boat.

It sounds far fetched, but some people here say that in 5 years you'll find cheap $5000 chinese cars in Walmart.

Digital Vampire · 27th October 2006, 17:41

I've seen some 10-15 Diesel Indica's here in Milan, Italy. There were not the re-badged Indica's(City Rover).. They were the real Tata ones except that they were LHD.

Any idea about the prices they were sold in Europe...

NIX · 27th October 2006, 20:02

Talk about Indian cars abroad ---

I have seen a Tata Safari in Melbourne, Aus and a Fiat Padmini in Dubai, UAE which is used for pizza delivery !

elf · 27th October 2006, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by NIX

... I have seen ... a Fiat Padmini in Dubai ...

Yep. Me too, over 6 years ago. Looked damn funny standing there on the wide roads amidst the latest & most expensive from all over the world...

5th September 2006, 14:25	#31
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 506 Times View My Garage	guys, if my memory serves me right, i do remember that a few years back, the TATAMobile was selected for the Scottish fire brigade. And there are ambys in good ol' London town too. so, i guess we are getting there. so far,we have covered the European markets, now we have to penetrate the US Markets. read this guys. http://sid.iisc.ernet.in/tml.html cheers
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 14:40	#32
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	You guys are getting it butt backwards! Please read the entire thread, not just a coupla posts. Simply having a few cars available does not constitute entry into a market. What's needed is full fleged company support, with dealers, spares depots, after sales service, finance options, & mainly - a desire to buy from the public. Seeing a coupla Revas & a buncha Ambys in England, the aforementioned Tatamobile in Scotland, does not constitute a presence. Also, my point has been that although these companies (Tata & Mahindra) are improving, they still have a long way to go before they can make a full fleged entry into global markets.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 14:44	#33
malgudi BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 355 Thanked: 183 Times View My Garage	Of what I remember, Sometime back Tata had a alliance with MG Rover group of UK and under this alliance Rover was selling Tata Indica rebadged as CityRover in UK. I think it would be lot easier and hassle free if you try and import this CityRover to USA and maybe you can buy Indica badges from India and replace them on the cityrover and you would have your Indica. will try and find out the link for this..... here is the link.... http://www3.mg-rover.com/rover_GB_en...cityrover.html Last edited by malgudi : 5th September 2006 at 15:02.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 16:22	#36
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Thank you Bullfrog. This is exactly the point I was trying to make.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 20:34	#37
99w210 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Washington D.C/Hyderabad Posts: 22 Thanked: 0 Times	MPower, yes, I would drive around a TATA Indica around DC. Its the unique factor that I like. ( nobody else has it ). I drive an E320 in usa. But, when I bought a car in india, I was contemplating between a palio diesel and an Indica Diesel and I went with Indica Diesel ( V2 redesigned ) -- One of the major decision factors was the "made in India" tag. I know its a little inferior - but they have improved a lot and are improving. ELF, you got me wrong, I was trying to say the same thing as you said, the protectionism ( in the form of taxes + excise etc ) in india is not putting any pressure on indian companies to be innovative -- they just become lazy. - We are in agreement here. Also, the reason I say Indica is because of the sudden demand in USA for sub-compact cars with High Fuel Effeciency. ( Because of the high gas costs, there is a sudden demand for sub-compact cars like Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris -- they are similar to Indica ). SUV sales are taking a real hit in the US Market and most automobile companies are scrambling to get fuel effecient cars into the market as soon as possible.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 21:14	#38
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Then now would be a great time for the Indica to enter... if it were competent enough! You already know my thoughts on this. I would like to thank one & all for hearing (reading?) out my arguments patiently & responding to them in the right spirit. I have / had no intention of insulting anybody or hurting their feelings, just wanted to get my point across. Last edited by elf : 5th September 2006 at 21:19.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 21:37	#39
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,994 Thanked: 16,275 Times View My Garage	guys, while you discuss about M&M [and Tata] making it into the US market, just like M&M quite successfully got it's tractors in there, and Tata atleast got it's cars on UK tarmac ... please remember that just because M&M has an encouraging response to their tractors, they will never make it with any of their road-going vehicles in their current and near-future avatars. And neither will Tata. Not in any significant numbers so as to be counted. A tractor is essentially not a road-going vehicle. It's a farm equipment. Meant to be driven at slow speeds, in farms, doing some farm specific work. Also, if these tractors are getting such good response there, it is also because they are being used they way tractors should be: not being used on roads. Just like a Indica isnt an off-roader. A 4x4 Scorp may do a little soft off-roading, but that's about it. A passenger car has a different set of requirements, and neither M&M nor Tata have it in them to make it to US roads, yet. Last edited by condor : 5th September 2006 at 21:40.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 21:46	#40
prasadee BANNED Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 569 Thanked: 266 Times View My Garage	Scorpio in 2007 According to a report in AutoWeek, the Scorpio may be available as early as 2007. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116391
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 21:57	#41
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,994 Thanked: 16,275 Times View My Garage	I dont think that article mentioned anything concrete about what set of wheels. And, quoting from the same article: "What this means to you: If the Indians want to sell low-priced vehicles to the Americans, they'll have to get in line behind the Koreans, the Chinese and the Russians. " And just in case I havent said this earlier .. I wish they do well. It will be good to see the home-grown stuff take on what the land of the first car has to offer. But before that, hope they both can satisfy those like me who still are looking at their models over what's been brought in from across the seas .. and satisfy the many others who have found their stuff not as good as what's come in into the country in recent years.
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 22:31	#42
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,732 Times View My Garage	There are various Chinese companies waiting in the wings to export to US. All have issues currently with quality, emissions, crash-test requirements etc. Indica will be in the same boat. It sounds far fetched, but some people here say that in 5 years you'll find cheap $5000 chinese cars in Walmart.
	() Thanks

27th October 2006, 17:41	#43
Digital Vampire BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Utopia! Posts: 604 Thanked: 119 Times	I've seen some 10-15 Diesel Indica's here in Milan, Italy. There were not the re-badged Indica's(City Rover).. They were the real Tata ones except that they were LHD. Any idea about the prices they were sold in Europe... Last edited by Digital Vampire : 27th October 2006 at 17:43.
	() Thanks

27th October 2006, 20:02	#44
NIX Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Delhi/ Melbounre - Victoria, Australia Posts: 2 Thanked: 0 Times	Indian Cars Abroad Talk about Indian cars abroad --- I have seen a Tata Safari in Melbourne, Aus and a Fiat Padmini in Dubai, UAE which is used for pizza delivery !
	() Thanks