JLR bringing in many new models

Unfazed by the losses of over Rs 1,700 crore, Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover plans to launch a number of new models, including hybrids cars, in the coming time and has plans to make all its future cars withlight-weight aluminium bodies for reducing carbon emissions. Several new models are under development and will be released in the market in the coming years. These will widen the project range and re-energise the range, Tata Group chief Ratan Tata said in Tata Motors Annual Report for 2008-09.

Some new car models of Land Rover would also be brought in the coming years, he admitted.JLR wants to have all its future cars constructed with light weight aluminum bodies resulting in considerable savings in weight, and fair reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions from the vehicles.

Important new technology development programmes at JLR include the development of a hybrid power train which will be introduced in future models of Jaguar and Land Rover.

The two British marque's incurred a loss of Rs 1,777.35 crore in 2008-09 due to global downturn, while the income from JLR sales stood at Rs 39,270.70 crore. Consequently, it had also gave away pink slips to over 2,000 staff members.

JLR has recently launched the new premier sedan XJ from Jaguar stable, deliveries of which would start from next year. The company also aims to create the next iconic sports cars to revive the lost glory of this near to extinct brand.

He, however, defended the USD 2.3-billion acquisition of the brands from Ford. The main goal with  JLR will be to sustain operations through this difficult period arising from the global recession. There is a good reason to believe that the company's new products and more aggressive marketing will see the company through this period, he added.

Perhaps, JLR is also working on identifying sources to supply components from India, which would reorganize engineering and computer aided design capabilities within Tata Motors and marketing synergies in various geographies, Tata  said.