TATA MOTORS Brand History Indian manufacturers Tata Motors have quite the history under their belt,

starting with the company's foundation in 1945 as a locomotive producer. Tata Motors is just one part of the business group Tata, formerly known as TELCO (Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company), which also has several other ventures, including a steel making plant and even a tea producing company. Tata got into the motoring business in 1954 when it starting producing heavy trucks in a joint venture with Daimler-Benz AG. So, in 1960. the first truck rolled out of the factory's door in Pune, India, a copy of a German Daimler truck. Tata starting exporting heavy-duty trucks but for the local market, they had to come up with lighter versions because of the infrastructure of the country. The first LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) model, the Tata 407, began production in 1986. At the beginning of the 90s, the company sought to evolve and expand into the car market, and it began a collaboration with Cummins Engine Company to produce more efficient diesel engines. Their first car was the Tata Indica, a model that enjoyed an unexpected success both in India and on other European markets, despite the fact that car-analysts gave it bad reviews. The Indica won people over with it's low fuel consumption and powerful engine. It was so successful that Rover began selling it in the UK under the name of CityRover. The second generation of Indica, the V2, was even more successful. Indica's major success gave Tata Motors the financial power to take over Daewoo Motors in 2004, in a effort to take their brand more international exposure. Other surprising acquisitions by the Tata Group include Jaguar and Land Rover as of March 26th, 2008 for a net 2 billion US dollars. Lately, Tata has made known its aggressiveness when it comes to gaining exposure and acquiring new brands. Tata Motors' financial power comes from the fact that its labor costs amount to only 9% of the profit, a reason for which many other car producers, including Volvo decided to move operations to India. Another important factor in Tata's success is the fact that the group holds several machine tools and metal producing plants, further reducing production costs.

Apart from this, Tata does not lack the innovative spirit, bringing to the world the compressed air car (OneCAT) and the the cheapest model ever produced, introduced at the 2008 Geneva auto show, the Tata Nano, a car which will set you back some $2.500. Also, Tata has expressed their wish to come up with a car made 100% out of plastic, in an effort to fight rising costs for metal production. It seems that Tata Motors has the recipe for success and only time will tell where this car manufacturer will head next Latest News about TATA MOTORS Tata Nano Recalled for Starter Issue

The Nano really wasnt what Tata had hoped: not only did the vehicle fail to meet its sales target by an incredibly high margin, but the car is now also the subject of a recall, with the campaign involving 115,000 units of the city car. Tata claims that this is an upgrade and doesnt consider the recall term appropriate, as the company claims the starter motor issue that generated it does not bring any safety problem. This affects all vehicles produced between 2009, when the car was launched and November 21 2011, when Tata introduced an upgraded version that features a new starter motor. Tata said that the campaign already debuted in October and that it has replaced the starter motor in 50,000 Nanos until now. "Owners of all old Nanos were informed about the exercise, and about 50,000 cars have already been done. There are about 65,000 owners who are yet to visit their dealerships and the company is in continuous contact with them," a company statement reads.

Tata Reveals $4.6M Nano Gold Plus

Tata has been threatening to release the world's most mobile jewel, a precious metal and stones-covered Nano for quite a while and we now have the occasion to see the car in flesh gold and bones silver. While the standard Nano sells in India (actually the car doesn't sell so well) for the equivalent of $2500, the creation you see here is worth no less than $4.6 million. According to The Rich Times, the vehicle is a celebration for the Tata family's Gold Plus jewelry stores. We get it guys, you really have some gold back there! Their precious is wears 176 pounds of 22 karat gold, 33 pound of silver and more than 10,000 precious gems and stones. Tata Aria Uses BorgWarner Torque-On-Demand Transfer Case

Tata Aria, the first Indian four-wheel drive crossover vehicle, makes use of BorgWarner's Torque-On-Demand (TOD) transfer case, the Michigan-based automotive supplier announced today. The system reportedly provides ondemand all-wheel drive traction on any surface. Specialists from the two companies are currently working on integrating BorgWarner's proprietary electronic control unit (ECU) and software into Tata's in-vehicle network (IVN), allowing the TOD transfer case to

automatically switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive and back without driver intervention. During product development, joint testing under extreme conditions in northern Michigan confirmed the performance of the TOD system and the Tata Aria's improved traction, enhanced stability and comfort. "BorgWarner's TOD technology helps set the Aria apart in the Indian market, providing both a stable, comfortable ride and improved traction," said John Sanderson, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems. "Bringing advanced technologies like the TOD transfer case to emerging markets enables local automakers to offer their customers features and options previously available only on imported vehicles." Tata Aria is powered by a 2.2l Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) diesel engine, which has an output rated at maximum 140 hp and 320 Nm of torque. The vehicle is equipped with several high end features, including a 3D surround system, dimming roof lamps, in-dash GPS with infotainment system, multifunctional steering wheel, dual arid conditions with automatic climate control and cruise control. Safety wise, the Aris sports 6 airbags, ESP, dual zone collapsible steering and stiffened body cage. The model is expected to be part of the Indian push into foreign markets which starts with the UK in spring 2011, and followed by several others across Europe later in the year. Tata Expands European Engineering Unit

Having already stated its goals of becoming a player on the European market, Indian manufacturer Tata Motors is now looking at ways to expand

the engineering business it has on the Old Continent, in an attempt to make them pivotal for the future models that it will launch here. The Pixel model, presented by Tata at this year's Geneva Auto Show, is one of the models developed in Europe, at the manufacturer's European Technical Centre (TMETC) in the UK. It is exactly this center the Indian company plans to expand, by announcing this week a partnership with WMG at the University of Warwick. Tata is planning to expand the workforce of its European department by hiring more staff. By 2013, Tata intends to bring the 240 staff to a number of 340. Some financial investments, although not detailed, are to be expected as well. Todays announcement represents a further demonstration of Tatas longterm commitment to build and develop R&D facilities here in the UK. TMETC plays a vital role in Tata Motors global R&D network, said Tim Leverton, Tata head of Advanced and Product Engineering. Tata Motors gets access to world class thoughts, skills and technologies through the TMETC and its collaboration with WMG. The contribution of TMETC and WMG is important to Tata Motors product development. The Pixel, the model which will probably mark Tata's entrance onto the European market, is powered by a 1.2l three-cylinder diesel engine that provides a fuel consumption rating of 3.4 l/100km (69 mpg). Unlike the Nano, it has been built with Europe in mind, meaning it will offer quite a bit more than the Indian minicar. Tata Motors to Launch Electric Car in Europe

Nissan has already launched its Leaf in Europe and, although the company still struggles to deal with the growing demand, it enjoys the status of being the only carmaker that sells a mass-produced EV. Competition could join

this game very soon and, although many believed that German or French companies will be the ones to challenge Nissan's leadership, it seems Indians are the ones to aim for success. Tata Motors is reportedly planning to introduce the Vista EV in Europe in the upcoming months and, if we are to believe the media reports on the matter, Denmark, Norway and the UK are the first three countries to get it. Of course, nobody from within Tata has talked on the subject, but the Indica Vista EV designation is not a new thing for Europeans. In December 2010, Tata announced that a total of 12 units will be launched on European streets in the course of this year, mostly for testing purposes. The UK is likely to get them this summer, and the government has already announced a 5,000 pounds subsidy for this particular model. When it first introduced the Indica Vista EV, Tata Motors said the car is able to cover a maximum of 110 miles (177 km) with a single charge, while the maximum speed can even reach 71 mph (114 km/h). The whole battery pack needs up to 8 hours to fully recharge. Tata Motors to Launch Nano in Europe by 2013 Tata has presented the so-called Pixel at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, a new model especially designed to tackle the Old Continent and arrive on European soil in a few years. However, it might seem like the newest model to be launched in Europe won't be the Pixel but the more popular Nano which is scheduled to make its debut in a two or three years time. Not much is known about Tata's plans, but it appears that the Nano is on its course to Europe and, as confirmed by a company official, it should take longer than 2013 to see the most affordable car here. We don't know yet. But it will certainly take two to three years," Tata Motors group CEO Carl-Peter Forster has told a German newspaper. It's not yet clear whether Tata intends to keep the Nano so affordable or make it a bit more expensive by adding new features and options. Furthermore, it could arrive in Europe with the new diesel unit that will go on sale in the domestic market in the course of this year.

The diesel will have a displacement of 600 or 700 cc and will have an output of 20 to 30 percent higher than the one of a regular unit with the same size. It is also very likely to achieve 2.5 l/100km (95 mpg), according to people from within the company. "The diesel engine will be in the 600-700 cc range like the petrol version and could be priced at a slight premium over the current variants," an article published by the Times of India in mid-January revealed. Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel A new city car concept for Europe has made its world public debut at the Geneva Auto Show today, a vehicle that is based on the Tata Nano, but with Zero Turn drive and an innovative diamond-shaped door system. Specifically, the Tata Pixels ability to manoeuvre and park in the tightest of spaces is made possible by its Zero Turn toroidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT). The system assists rotation of the outer rear wheel forwards and the inner rear wheel backwards during low-speed manoeuvres, while the front wheels turn at narrow angles. The result is a turning circle radius of just 2.6 metres. The 'scissor' doors rotate upwards from the front for easy access in or out of the car, while the doors' large glass area provides enhanced visibility. A forward sweeping roofline boasts minimal front and rear overhangs, while the window graphic features an interchangeable island that can be used to change the exterior appearance whenever desired. The Tata Pixel also introduces My Tata Connect, which is the first integrated human-machine interface (HMI) concept from Tata Motors for its new generation programmes. This enables seamless integration of the users smartphone or tablet with the vehicles infotainment system and also allows controlling key functions of the car. Power comes from a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, positioned at the rear, featuring variable coolant and oil pump and rapid warm-up technologies. With optimised aerodynamic drag, low rollingresistance tyres, stop-start technology, and intelligent battery charging, the

Tata Pixel returns European combined cycle (NEDC) fuel economy of 3.4 l/100km and CO2 emissions of just 89g/km. Tata Motors holds true to its belief that there is an opportunity in Europe for a city car, which is optimal in space, manoeuvrability and environmentfriendliness. The Tata Pixel is a reflection of Tata Motors idea of what such a car should be, said Carl-Peter Forster, Managing Director and Group CEO of Tata Motors. Tata Gears Up for Motorsports, Launches Full Throttle Tata Motors has until now invested in many market segments, some of which managed to become famous in the whole world, as is the case of the world's most affordable vehicle called Nano. But because investments in India are advancing at a very fast pace, Tata Motors has to move fast, so the company has just announced its debut in the Desert Storm Rally with a newly-founded team. Called Tata Motors Full Throttle, the team will make its debut in the series on February 22nd in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and will hold the steering wheel of 2 Safari SUVs and 2 Xenon XT pick-up trucks. With best in class technologies in our product range, we will now be able to showcase these technologies through Tata Motors' 'Full Throttle'. The platform will help the company in organising and synergising all efforts and activities in the area of motorsports including development and testing," R Ramakrishnan, VP, Tata Motors, said in a statement according to a Rush Lane report. "The participants from Tata Motors in the Desert Storm Rally are all experienced drivers with enough experience of racing in India behind them. We are confident of a good show in the rally as well as other racing events to be organised later. The best of all is that Tata Motors thinks that taking part in motorsport competitions will also help the company improve its existing products, so it doesn't rule out the possibility to see more powerful models in the near future.

Our participation will also help in better understanding the capabilities of our products (cars) on display," S. G. Saxena, Head, Utility Vehicles, Tata Motors, explained. Tata Nano Diesel to Achieve 2.5 l/100km We're not entirely sure that this is true, but it seems like Volkswagen might have a little surprise in its effort to create one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in the world. Tata Motors is reportedly working on a new version of the Nano that would make the petite car not only the most affordable vehicle ever made, but also the most fuel efficient to date. A report by IndianCarsBikes.in suggests that Tata Motors is looking into ways to fit a new engine on the Nano that would give it better efficiency figures than ever. The mill that could power the Nano could come in the form of the so-called Tata Ace which is capable of returning fuel consumption ratings of 2.5 l/100km (about 95 mpg). This isn't the first time when a diesel flavor of the Nano comes into discussion because rumors regarding such a project surfaced ever since the first days of 2011. It was initially believed that the Nano would be powered by a 2-cylinder turbocharged unit with a displacement of 600 or 700 cc, with an output of 20 to 30 percent higher than the one of a regular unit with the same size. "The diesel engine will be in the 600-700 cc range like the petrol version and could be priced at a slight premium over the current variants," an article published by the Times of India in mid-January revealed, while also adding that the diesel Nano could be priced in between $4,000 and $4,900.