Tata Nano begins international journey with Sri Lanka, as Tata Motors celebrates 50th year of its International Business

Sri Lanka has become the first international market for the Tata Nano, with the people's car being commercially launched in the country today. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) June 01, 2011 - The introduction of the Tata Nano in international markets comes on the Golden Jubilee of Tata Motors' international business which too began with Sri Lanka in 1961 in association with Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), the company's distributor.

In the 50th year of its presence in Sri Lanka and partnership with DIMO, Tata Motors is also introducing in the country five new commercial vehicles - Tata Divo luxury coaches and semi low-floor air-conditioned Tata Marcopolo buses for passenger transportation and, for cargo movement, the Tata Prima 4928 tractor-trailor, Tata 1618 truck and the Tata Super Ace, a high-end variant from the Tata Ace family. Tata Motors is already the market leader in commercial vehicles in Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the introduction of the Tata Nano in Sri Lanka, Mr. Carl-Peter Forster, Managing Director and Group CEO of Tata Motors, said, "Tata Motors has already established a firm footprint in international markets. We will now scale up on this foundation, judiciously choosing appropriate geographies and addressing unmet consumer needs with our portfolio. The Tata Nano will play a major role in the next phase of growth of our international business."

Mr. P.M. Telang, Managing Director - India Operations of Tata Motors, said, "The stupendous international response to the unveiling of the Tata Nano in 2008 established that customers across the world were awaiting such a car. With the launch in Sri Lanka today we begin that journey. We have already formulated plans for its introduction in several countries, to be implemented over the next few years."

Mr. Ranjith Pandithage, the Chairman of Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC said, "The Tata Nano is a marvel in automotive engineering. We in DIMO are proud to bring it to Sri Lanka. Customers in Sri Lanka too will now have the joy and the benefit of a stylish, feature-rich small car. The 50th year of partnership between Tata Motors and DIMO is a momentous occasion and we are committed to taking the business to new heights."

In the last 50 years, Tata Motors has exported over 516,000 vehicles across the world from its portfolio of trucks, buses, passenger cars and utility vehicles. In 2010-11, the company exported 58,044 vehicles, the highest ever. Tata Motors' vehicles are exported to about 40 countries, in South Asia, South East Asia, West Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Besides, the Tata Motors Group's international business also includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company in South Korea, Tata Motors (Thailand) Limited, Tata Hispano Motors Carrocera SA in Spain and Tata Motors (SA) (Proprietary) in South Africa. Tata Motors itself has franchisee/JV assembly operations in Ukraine, Russia, Bangladesh and Senegal.

To Sri Lanka, Tata Motors has thus far exported over 69,000 commercial and passenger vehicles. The company's portfolio of commercial vehicles in the country comprises the entire range from sub 1-tonne small trucks to 49-tonne prime movers and from 14-seater buses to luxury coaches, while the passenger vehicles portfolio, starting in 2004, already includes Tata Indica Vista, Tata Indica Vista 90, Tata Indigo CS, Tata Indigo Manza and the Tata Safari. In association with DIMO, Tata Motors has already established a Technical Training Institute in Jaffna and begun work on a Driver Training School in Hambantota as part of community development initiatives.

About Tata Motors

Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of INR. 1,23,133 crores ($ 27 billion) in 2010-11. Through subsidiaries and associate companies, Tata Motors has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand and Spain. Among them is Jaguar Land Rover, the business comprising the two iconic British brands. It also has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 5.9 million Tata vehicles plying in India, Tata Motors is the country's market leader in commercial vehicles and among the top three in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fourth largest truck manufacturer and the third largest bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America.

About DIMO

Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC, among the top 20 corporates of Sri Lanka, was established in 1939. In 1964, DIMO was converted into a Public Quoted Company by obtaining a listing at the Colombo Brokers' Association, as it was then known. What began as an automobile sales and servicing concern in1939, has since grown in size as well as in scope, and presently has a workforce of more than 1200. The Company has 71 years of experience in the automobile and engineering industry and over the years has made a major contribution towards the development of the transportation sector in Sri Lanka. DIMO is probably the oldest sole distributor for Mercedes-Benz Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, in the Asian Region. DIMO is celebrating 71 years of operations in Sri Lanka and 50 years of its association with Tata Motors Ltd in 2011.

THE TATA NANO

The Tata Nano offers an incredibly spacious passenger compartment which can comfortably seat four adults. With a length of just 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, the Tata Nano has the smallest exterior footprint for a car in Sri Lanka but is 21% more spacious than the smallest car available today. Its small size coupled with a turning radius of just 4 metres, makes it extremely manoeuvrable in the smallest of parking slots. A high seating position makes ingress and egress easy. The Tata Nano comes with a 2-cylinder aluminium MPFI 624 cc petrol engine mated to a four-speed gear box. The car will be available in three variants and their key features are:

Tata Nano Standard : The standard version, in three colour options, single-tone seats, and fold-down rear seat.

Tata Nano CX : In five colour options, with heating and air-conditioning (HVAC), two-tone vinyl seats, parcel shelf, booster-assisted brakes, fold-down rear seat with nap rest.

Tata Nano LX : In addition to the features of the CX, Tata Nano LX offers central locking, front power windows, body coloured exteriors in three premium colours, fog lamps, electronic trip meter, cup holder in front console, mobile charger point, and rear spoiler.

PERFORMANCE & SPECIFICATIONS

Performance : The 2-cylinder 624 cc engine - delivering 35 PS @ 5250 rpm and a torque of 48 Nm @ 3000 rpm - enables the car to have a top speed of 105 kmph and negotiate inclines with a gradeability of 30%.

Fuel efficiency : 23.6 km/litre, certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) under mandated test conditions, which is the highest for any petrol car in Sri Lanka.

Emission : The high fuel efficiency, with a low kerb weight, ensures that the Tata Nano - at 101 gm / km - has the lowest CO2 emission among cars in Sri Lanka.

Safety : The Tata Nano has an all sheet-metal body, reinforced passenger compartment, crumple zones and intrusion-resistant doors, besides mandatory seat belts. The Tata Nano's safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements - it passes the roll-over test and offset impact test. Tubeless tyres - among which the rear ones are wider, provide extra stability - further enhancing safety.

The Tata Nano is priced at LKR 9,25,000 lakhs for the Tata Nano Standard, LKR 9,99,000 lakhs for the Tata Nano CX and LKR 11,00,000 lakhs for the Tata Nano LX version.

The Tata Nano comes with a warranty of 4 years / 90,000 km, whichever is earlier and 24 hours on-road assistance service.

Tata Motors launches 5 new commercial vehicles in the Sri Lankan market

Tata Motors today introduced five new commercial vehicles - the Tata Divo luxury coaches and semi low-floor air-conditioned Tata Marcopolo buses for passenger transportation and, for cargo movement, the Tata Prima LPS 4928 tractor-trailor, Tata LPT 1618 truck and the Tata Super Ace, a high-end variant from the Tata Ace family in Sri Lanka.

Tata Divo Coach : The brand new luxury AC Coach from the house of Tata is meant for comfortable intercity passenger transportation and tourist operations The Tata Divo styling comes from Hispano Corracera of Spain, a fully owned subsidiary of Tata Motors. The Divo Coach is BS III compliant, with a 285 HP Cummins engine. The standard variant seats 45 and can be customised as per passenger and operator requirement. A generous saloon space with a high roof and high legroom, along with large windows and low noise levels, make this luxury coach a perfect choice for long journeys.

With luxurious and comfortable interiors and exclusive external styling, the Tata Divo offers better performance through breakthrough technology. Designed specifically for long-distance travel, the bus comes with superior features like the advanced instrument cluster with on-board diagnostics, exterior rear-view mirrors to give large angle vision and eliminate front-end blind spots, 4-spoke steering wheel with adjustable positions, pneumatic & mechanically suspended seat to ensure driver comfort, Hydraulic parallel opening baggage flaps for better and convenient access to luggage, world-class entertainment system from Carbon, reversing camera, destination board, refrigerator and mobile charging points as optional items.

Tata Semi-low Floor RE bus on LPO 1618 : The Starbus Semi Low Floor (SLF) on LPO 1618 is the latest offering from Tata Marcopolo Motors Ltd (TMML), a joint venture between Tata Motors & Marcopolo, the Brazil based global leaders in body building for buses & Coaches. This Semi Low Floor bus offers several advantages that make it the right choice for Intracity public transport & BRTS. The driveline for this bus has a 180 HP powerful Cummins BS III Engine & Allisson Automatic Transmission to meet the stringent demands of public transport duty cycle. Semi Low Floor design has a two step entry, making it convenient for the elderly & the children to board & alight from the bus. It also comes with other passenger friendly features like an electronic destination display board, specially designed anti vandalism urban seats with integrated grab handles, wider gangway & better space for standee passengers during crush loads. Starbus SLF stands out for its bright spacious interiors, comfortable seating, ample standee space & a contemporary modern looking design complimented by a aesthetically superior face & body design. Truly a bus providing a boost to public transportation.

Tata Prima LPS 4928 : Prima is the newest and technologically contemporary offering in the heavy commercial vehicles range from Tata Motors. LPS 4928 is one of the offerings from the Tata Prima range that includes prime movers and tippers.

Tata Prima LPS 4928 is a 49-tonne 280 HP (Cummins ISBE engine) tractor with a 9-speed ZF transmission, and a matching trailer with new generation brakes, ABS and specialised axles for heavy duty and high speed application. The Prima LPS 4928 tractor-trailer is ideal for carrying freight, like steel, cement, and containers. The tractor's spacious air-conditioned cabin includes reclining seats, adjustable steering wheels, arm rests for driver comfort. It has got sleepers to facilitate long-distance travel. These features are designed to induce longer and more trips. Global Positioning System for vehicle tracking is also available. The driving comforts enable the vehicle to operate non-stop for long hours and cover over 700 kms each day thereby offering faster turnaround. Equipped with strong aggregates like robust chassis frame and suspension, the Tata Prima LPS 4928 can overcome any terrain. In a nutshell, Tata Prima LPS 4928 enhances productivity and increases profitability for its owners.

Tata LPT 1618 truck : Another profitable product from the Tata Motor's stable, Tata LPT 1618 is a 16-tonne 132-KW (Tata Cummins Engine) cargo truck with 5200 wheelbase especially made for container application. A chassis depth of 285 mm (max) and a clutch diameter of 380 mm, ensures better life of clutch, makes it extra strong, highly reliable and decreases maintenance cost in the long run. Clear head lamps add to the safety factor while plying on higher altitudes and driving at night. Stylized and aesthetically designed decals improve the look and feel of the vehicle.

The aerodynamic cabin is designed using finite analysis method which offers lesser resistance which leads to better fuel economy. The efficient grill design ensures optimum air flow to the engine leading to best thermal efficiency. Tilt cabin ensures that the aggregates on the engine and chassis frame are easily accessible. Optimum steering diameter and ergonomically positioned pedals ensure maximum driver comfort and ease of driving.

In totality, this vehicle offers higher productivity, superior fuel economy, low repair and maintenance cost.

Tata Super Ace : The Tata Super Ace is a powerful, fuel efficient, ultra stylish 1 tonne truck with an optimum power of 70 HP power & a high torque of 135 NM to offer customers best-in-class fuel efficiency & low operating economics. With a top speed of 125 kmph (laden), it ensures a zippy smooth drive, quicker deliveries & faster turnaround time. The vehicle has a proven & reliable four cylinder, Tata 475 IDI turbo charged intercooled diesel engine. With one of the longest loading decks (2.63 m) in its class combined with full 1000 Kg payload, It offers a perfect solution for voluminous loads. The Tata Super Ace also offers superior comfort for the driver & the co-driver with an air-conditioned cabin, power windows, power steering, adjustable & reclining bucket seats, a fully functional dashboard with lockable glovebox mobile charger and roomy car like interiors. Vehicle dimensions (in mm) are: LXWXH = 4340 X 1565 X 1858

The Tata Super ACE will now enable drivers/owners to increase the number of trips because of more comfort & higher speeds, to provide better earnings and faster growth, thus keeping in pace with their growing business needs.

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