Tata Motors developing global SUVs in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover

Home grown Tata Motors has approved a proposal to develop two global Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) under the assistance of its 2008-acquired British luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), reports a national daily. Codenamed as Q501 (five-seater) and Q502 (seven-seater), the SUVs are expected to be making its way to Indian shores in 2017 and will be positioned as premium with an INR 16-25 lakh sticker price.

Ever since Tata acquired JLR, there were various reports claiming about possibilities for the platform sharing between the luxury British brands and the Indian parent firm, but cost and product positioning remained hindrances. However, now Tata Motors appears to have worked around these issues, according to the report. With these new products, Tata Motors aims to project itself as a global car manufacturer. The auto major plans to retail 80,000 units of these products globally on a yearly-basis, in regions such as South-East Asia and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. JLR’s new Ingenium family of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines could be used to propel the upcoming global Tata SUVs.

Tata Motors is “keen about building its utility vehicle portfolio as it thinks that is its DNA”, said an automobile analyst. “To claw back its share in the segment will be a daunting task. They have been on the job very seriously and they know what are their problem areas.”

With the introduction of Estate and the Sierra models, Tata Motors was the first company to sell SUVs in India, which was later followed by the Safari and Sumo. However, with the arrival of strong competitors such as Mahindra Scorpio and Bolero in the segment, the manufacturer lost its ground.

However, there isn't an official word out on this, as both Tata Motors and JLR have declined to comment on this development.

Source: Live Mint