The Hindu : Business : Indica, Indigo enter South African market

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004

Business

Business

Indica, Indigo enter South African market

By Our Staff Correspondent

MUMBAI, OCT. 25. Tata Motors has announced the entry of two models from its product range — Indica and Indigo — in the South African market. The cars will be available at dealerships in a month's time. Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata group, unveiled both cars on the first day of the `Auto Africa Expo 2004' in Johannesburg, South Africa, today.

The company will introduce four derivatives of the Indica with all four derivatives offering power steering. The fully loaded version at the top end will be available with features such as heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), central locking, driver airbag, passenger airbag, power windows, power steering, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and textured seat upholstery.

The Indigo sedan will be offered in standard and luxury versions. While the standard version will have features such as power steering and HVAC, the luxury version will be fully loaded as in the Indica.

The distribution and marekting of the Tata passenger cars in South Africa will be handled by Accordian Investments (Pty) Ltd., a joint venture between the Imperial Group, Ukhamba Holdings (Pty) Ltd. and Tata Africa. A network of 20 dealers will be employed in the first phase for marketing these cars. Tata Motors has been selling its medium commercial and buses in the South African market through Tata Automobile Corporation South Africa (TACSA) since 1997.

In addition to the Tata passenger vehicles, on display at the Auto Africa Expo is the Tata Novus heavy range of commercial vehicles, manufactured at Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company Ltd., South Korea. The company is also showcasing its 8-tonne truck at the Expo, LPT 1518 which has been designed especially for the South African conditions. Both these are to be introduced in South Africa in the first quarter of 2005-06. Tata Africa is also setting up a bus assembly unit in Johannesburg with an investment of Rand 40 million (Rs. 29.60 crores).

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