Tata Motors today presented to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) CNG-Electric Hybrid Low-floor Starbuses, India’s first such vehicle. This is the first time in India that hybrid buses will be used for public transportation.
The four Hybrid buses of Tata Motors will run in the city of Delhi during the Commonwealth Games period. The company will maintain the buses, as it does for the fleet of Tata low-floor CNG buses running in the city. The Tata Hybrid Starbus offers substantial improvement in fuel economy compared to a conventional bus. As a result, the usage of this technology leads to lower emissions, thereby contributing to cleaner air and a greener, more environment-friendly commercial passenger transportation application.

Meant for intra-city transportation, the Hybrid Tata Starbus is powered with a parallel hybrid engine comprising an internal combustion CNG engine and an electric motor using regenerative energy storage system. Parallel hybrid technology uses power generation simultaneously through both the CNG engine and the electric motor to drive the vehicle. The system reutilises lost braking energy to recharge the battery. The low-floor (floor height: 400 mm) air-conditioned bus can seat 32 passengers, and can also accommodate wheel chairs. Pneumatically operated in-swing and out-swing flat doors and kneeling facility allow easy entry and exit, reducing halt time and trip lengths. Full air suspension and telescopic double-acting shock absorbers provide excellent ride quality, while an energy-efficient HVAC system enhances comfort. With high starting acceleration, and a maximum speed of 70 kms per hour, the Hybrid Starbus is an innovative solution for fast and comfortable intra-city passenger movement in an environment-friendly manner.

During the Commonwealth Games, DTC will also operate a fleet of 600 Tata low floor air-conditioned CNG buses for the exclusive use of athletes and delegates. Tata Motors is providing round-the-clock upkeep & maintenance of these buses, with a dedicated team of over 500 engineers, mechanics and other staff at the Millennium Park Depot, specially created for the Commonwealth Games.

Tata Motors plans to focus on various countries around the globe to drive its growth. The company hopes to increase its market share in Russia, China, Middle East and countries in Africa to widen the passenger car and the commercial vehicles range. We are seeing definite signs of economic recovery globally. Vehicle sales in China and India have driven the industry out of difficult times, something which would definitely help Tata Motors penetrate into different territories.

Tata Motors is considering setting up an assembly unit in South Africa for medium and small trucks by the first quarter of next year to boost sales in African markets such as Zambia, Nigeria and Ghana. The initial capacity will be 3,000 units, which will later scale up to 4,500 units, he said. At present, the company is exporting close to 3,000 units to South Africa. In 1994, Tata Group set up Tata Africa Holdings in Johannesburg. Later in 2006, it acquired a manufacturing plant of Japanese auto major Nissan in South Africa. South Africa is an integral market for Tata Motors and has charted out a five-year growth plan. The company also disclosed it plans to set up an assembly plant in Nigeria in the next two to three years. Tata Motors currently has plants in Thailand , Bangladesh , Spain, UK and South Korea.

Tata Motors is happy to announce that it is providing complete transport solution to the Queen’s Baton Relay, as part of Commonwealth Games 2010. The Baton came from Pakistan today at the Wagah Border. On its 100-day national tour, the baton will visit the capital of each state and union territory, and many other cities along the way, covering more than 20,000 km. By the end of its journey, the baton will have traversed over 190,000 km in 340 days, making the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi one of the longest relays in the history of the Commonwealth Games. As part of transport solution, Tata Motors is supporting with 17 Sumo Grandes, one Land Rover Discovery 4, three Buses, three covered body trucks and one media vehicle. Tata Motors is also providing fuel, drivers and routine maintenance for these vehicles.

Tata Motors today signed a turnkey contract with Myanmar Automobile and Diesel Industries Limited (MADI), an enterprise under the Government of Myanmar’s Ministry of Industry-2, for setting up a heavy truck plant, at Magwe, approximately 480 km from Yangon, funded by a Line of Credit from the Government of India. The facilities planned at the plant include a highly flexible chassis & frame assembly line along with a cab manufacturing, painting and trimming set-up. The plant is expected to become operational by the last quarter of 2010-11, with a capacity of 1,000 vehicles per year. The capacity can be expanded to 5,000 units.

Tata Motors will launch the Indica Vista, Vista EV, Safari and Xenon pick-up in the UK this year. The Aria crossover and Nano Europa will follow in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The company is currently in talks with two potential distributors. The Vista EV will be manufactured in Coventry later this year and the company intends to produce 1500 units in 2010. Tata is aiming for low cost ownership with the Vista EV, comparable to that of a petrol or diesel car over a period of three years. Hence the company plans to offer the car for sale and then leasing the batteries.

Tata Motors has announced the launch of Service Edge, a comprehensive customer service initiative. Tata Motors Service Edge is constructed on three core customer-desired service attributes — ‘Response in minutes, resolve in hours’; ‘Service with unmatched reliability’ and ‘Assured value for money’. A host of distinctive facilities are being offered to deliver each of these attributes to customers in the company’s nationwide service network of 800 service centres spread across 500 cities and towns.

24X7 On-road assistance programme – In association with MyTVS, Tata Motors has launched a breakdown assistance programme and towing assistance across the country accessed through a toll free helpline (1800 209 7979) and serviced by a dedicated network of over 2,000 authorised service providers. Quick response is ensured within 60 minutes in city limits, 90 minutes on state or national highways and within 120 minutes on hilly roads and other places.

Rapid repair - Rapid repair is a cost effective, quick and specialised body repair programme offered across the Tata Motors dealership network. Small dents, scratches and such body jobs are attended with an assurance of the car delivered on the same day.

e-Service appointments – Through an online service appointment facility, customers can select a time slot, date and a dealer of their choice for servicing their vehicle. Customers can also list down on-line job orders based on the repairs required. Post the on-line registration, the respective dealership customer relations officer responds instantly and confirms the appointment.

Speed-O-service - Speed-O-service has been designed to offer quick repair service within 60 to 120 minutes using specialised manpower and infrastructure. Tata Motors can repair 6 vehicles per bay per day through this process, ensuring faster response and increasing service efficiency.

Most automakers have decided to pass on the 2% increase in excise duty completely to the customers. Maruti Suzuki said its’ car will become costlier by 2% whereas Hyundai said the increase in excise duty will result in price rise of its cars by Rs 6,500-25,000 on average. Volvo has also said they will be increasing prices. Fiat India has already announced a revised pricing for the Palio, Grande Punto and the Linea ranging between Rs. 7000-15,500/- The change in pricing will be applicable with immediate effect.

“Following the excise duty hike by the Finance Minister in the budget, we may hike prices by up to Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 70,000 for heavy vehicles and Rs. 5000-6000 for smaller vehicles,” Tata Motors MD, India Operations, P M Telang said.

Tata Motors has nnounced the launch of a Mine Protected Vehicle, as part of its strategy to enhance the scope of its defence business right up to frontline combat vehicles. The company, which has been a supplier to India’s defence and paramilitary forces since 1958, already offers an extensive portfolio of troop carriers and logistics vehicles. The launch of combat and tactical vehicles and equipment will allow it to leverage the entire defence mobility spectrum. Besides the Army, Tata Motors will also offer the vehicle to paramilitary and police forces. The company has the ability to mobilise adequate manufacturing capacity, and will deploy its dealer/service network across the country for maintenance and service.

The Tata Mine Protected Vehicle is based on modular flexibility and integrates V shaped hull blast protection technology, ideally suited for counter-insurgency operations. The two roof-top hatches for observation, 9 firing ports and a 360-degree roof mounted rotating turret for an LMG/HMG weapon ensures maximum fire power. Its combat survivability comes from all round NIJ Level 3 BP protection and customer/mission specific underbelly blast protection.

The air-conditioned crew cabin also renders itself to multiple configurations for different combat roles, like a command post, emergency evacuation ambulance or a troop carrier. Crew and seating layouts from 8 to 12 troops can meet these varied operational requirements. The 245 PS diesel engine generates a top speed of 100 kmph and a gradeability of 60%. The 860 mm ground clearance and fordability of 1000 mm ensures mobility even in the toughest terrain. Space for appropriate communication equipment and ADNAV system makes it operational even at night and in adverse weather conditions.

Tata 8×8 Weapon Platform is a unique and versatile high mobility platform, capable of being configured to a host of military applications like missile/artillery and air defence weapons, surveillance equipment, communications and electronics warfare. It is already becoming the platform of choice to various weapon / missile system integrators in the role of a cost effective launcher, carrier, radar pedestal, generator van and command post.

Its 380/420 PS engine generates a speed of over 80 kmph and gradeability of up to 60%. With a fordability of 1200 mm, trench crossing ability of 2 metres, ground clearance of 400 mm, a compensating bogey suspension, wide wheel tracks it can operate under severe terrain conditions. The tiltable military cabin, compatible to up-armouring and NBC protection on demand, and traditional chassis frame ensures free accessibility to all major aggregates and lends itself to easy maintainability. The wide cabin windscreens ensure good all-around visibility.

Tata Light Specialist Vehicle is a single platform to undertake diverse missions such as reconnaissance, counter-insurgency operations for special forces and even as an ambulance. It has an adaptive automatic transmission, 60% gradeability, 750 mm fordability, 300 mm vertical obstacle climbing ability, 45% approach angle, 45% departure angle, 250 mm ground clearance and a top speed of 100 kmph. The vehicle can operate in a temperature range of –20 degree to +55 degree Celsius. Tata Light Armoured Troop Carrier is designed for movement of troops for counter insurgency operation, with protection against small arm fire, floor protected against hand grenade blasts, and fuel tank bolstered with explosive suppressant material.

The air-conditioned Armoured Safari, offering NIJ Level 3 protection for VVIPs, is equipped with features like hand grenade protection for underbelly, run flat tyres, five exit doors, explosive suppressant material in the fuel tank, extra wide footsteps for escorts and RYG (Red Yellow Green) indicator for escort vehicles. It comes with comfortable interiors, plush seating, and a fine-tuned suspension. The Armoured Sumo can carry six troops for counter-insurgency operations especially in hilly off-road terrain. Six firing ports and a roof hatch ensure maximum fire power. It can move from 4×2 to 4×4 mode whilst on the move. It too offers NIJ Level 3 protection, with underbelly protection against hand grenades, run flat tyres, and five exits.

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