Tata Motors planning to expand product range in Russia, Ukraine

Moscow, Sept 5 (UNI) Tata Motors is planning to expand its products range into Russia and former Soviet republic of Ukraine, Chief of the Corporate Communication Department Debasis Ray said here.

''Russia and Ukraine are a priority goal for Tata Motors because we believe that our vehicles are ideally suited for these countries, and hope that consumers in Russia will appreciate our cars as good value for money,'' Mr Ray said, referring to the successful participation of the company in the week-long 3rd International Motor Show InterAuto-2007 here, which concluded yesterday.

The company first introduced its light commercial vehicles in 2004 and is currently looking for the business prospects of selling not only medium and heavy trucks and buses but also passenger cars.

It exhibited at the Moscow Motor show, for the first time, an extended range of its products, including the Xenon 4x4 pick-up (crew cab), Ace mini truck, Hispano DIVO GT 3.5 bus, LP 613 bus, LPT 613 truck, Novus 6X4 dumper and Novus 6X4 tractor.

Mr Ray pointed out the number of Indian cars in Russia was ''undeservedly small'', adding the Russian plants Volzhanin and Amur produce only the LP 613 bus and LPT-613 truck, respectively, and have only sold 700 of these models.

''Tata Motors is going to improve the situation in the next three years,'' he stressed.

The company may sell in Russia Indica hatchbacks, Indigo sedans and Indigo SW station wagons.

He said it would be too early to talk about sales of the world's cheapest car (one lakh-car) in Russia.

Mr Ray said Tata Motors was not going to compete with Toyota and Nissan in Russia as they were planning to produce inexpensive passenger cars for Russia by 2010.

''Tata Motors chooses only those consumer segments in which we believe we have the best products to meet consumer needs,'' he added.

The serious designs of the Tata Motors Ltd are borne out by the fact that the latest modification of its 'Indigo' passenger car is already being tried and adjusted to Russian conditions at the Dmitrov testing ground near Moscow.

''We must, so to say, acclimatise our automobiles, to make them fit for Russian conditions, and we have already spent two million dollars for this purpose. This work has been successful so far,'' Tata Business Section Head P G Shankar said.

UNI