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Tata's Luxury Buys Tell World 'We're Here'

Jaguar, Land Rover acquisitions add dimension to Indian giant's broad base

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 26, 2008 11:53 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Perhaps you’ve never heard of Tata, the Indian company that's the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover—but it's already a $70 billion globe-straddling giant, the BBC reports, with major subsidiaries in a host of industries. Not content with dominating its fast-growing home market, Tata Motors sells cars in Africa, South America, and throughout Asia.

Tata also recently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but remains essentially a family business run by Ratan Tata, grandson of founder Jamsetji Tata. Tata views global expansion as a necessary growth strategy, but it hasn’t abandoned its Indian roots. Thanks to a crack engineering team, Tata produces the Nano, the world’s cheapest car at $2,500.

General view of the Land Rover and Jaguar Halewood plant is pictured in Merseyside Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
General view of the Land Rover and Jaguar Halewood plant is pictured in Merseyside Tuesday, March 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/PA, Peter Byrne)
Tata Chemicals Managing Director Homi Khusrokhan, smiles during a press conference in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Jan 31, 2008.
Tata Chemicals Managing Director Homi Khusrokhan, smiles during a press conference in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Jan 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rajesh Nirgude)
Journalists look at the new Tata Nano during the press day at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show, Tuesday, March 4, 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Journalists look at the new Tata Nano during the press day at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show, Tuesday, March 4, 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Sandro Campardo)
A representative of the Tata booth cleans the body of the new Nano. The Nano is the cheapest car in the world, created by Tata for its home market of India.
A representative of the Tata booth cleans the body of the new Nano. The Nano is the cheapest car in the world, created by Tata for its home market of India.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Sandro Campardo)
General view of the Land Rover and Jaguar Halewood plant is pictured in Merseyside Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Ford is expected to announce the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors Ltd. today.
General view of the Land Rover and Jaguar Halewood plant is pictured in Merseyside Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Ford is expected to announce the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors Ltd. today.   (AP Photo/PA, Peter Byrne)
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Tata's deep pockets could jump start Jaguar, Rover
Der Spiegel

Tata's no stranger to big foreign acquisitions
Sify.com

What the sale means
Times (UK)

 
India • Ford • Jaguar • Land Rover • auto industry • Tata Motors • Tata Nano • Daewoo

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