Tata to launch Nano in Africa, strengthen assembly operations

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) Tata Motors today said it plans to launch the Nano in the African countries, and looks to strengthen its position in the continent through assembly operations.

''We will be pleased to have the Nano in many African countries,'' Tata Motors Managing Director Ravi Kant told reporters here.

He added that the company has been supplying public transport for years and the Nano will be a good fit for the individual transport segment.

The company is also planning to start SKD (semi-knocked down) operations of pickup trucks in the Senbus facility in Senegal.

Feasibility studies will also be undertaken by other Tata Group companies to start their operations in Senegal, he added.

The company had recently acquired the manufacturing facilities of Nissan in South Africa and the facility planning has been completed while project execution will commence shortly.

''We are looking at various possibilities of manufacturing in the plant,'' said Mr Kant. He added that the company has not decided on whether the plant will manufacture commercial vehicles, passenger cars or both.

Tata Motors is also conducting a feasibility study to start SKD operations in Congo and CKD (completely knocked down) operations in Kenya. It also plans to start selling passenger cars from this fiscal.

Tata Motors has a presence for more than 15 years in Congo and has sold around 2,000 vehicles since 1991.

In Ghana, the company will make investment to establish more robust after sales and service facilities, while it plans to increase sales and services network in Algeria to about 48 facilities by 2010.

Mr Kant said Tata motors has received orders from the Tanzanian Army and Zanzibar Army for troops carrier and will start sale of passenger cars in Angola from next year.

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