The Hindu Business Line : Tatas' passenger vehicle set for early 2007 launch

Rolling out
Already developed two versions of the product.
The new product will directly take on the Tempo Traveller; around the same time as another Renault model, Logaan made by M&M, will hit the country's roads.

Pune , Oct. 4

Tata Motors is gearing up for an early 2007 launch for its newest offering, a people transporter, developed around Renault's `Trafik' model from the Pune manufacturing facilities.

Top official sources told Business Line that the company has already developed two versions of the product codenamed Panel V, a high dome and a flat roof model with the former aimed at the inter-city travel market. The two models, to be fitted with the company's 4DL engine, are currently being evaluated and are undergoing road tests within the company facilities before it heads for homologation at the ARAI facilities here. "Tata Motors is working on several innovations on its product portfolio. However, we cannot share details on our future launch plans," a Tata Motors spokesperson said.

The new product will directly take on the Tempo Traveller and is slated for an early 2007 debut, around the same time as another Renault model, the Logan made by M&M, will hit the country's roads.

Company sources said a new manufacturing line is being put in place at the Pune facilities for the new entrant, which is expected to sell 50,000 units annually. The company is expecting to initially manufacture 1,250 units every month.

The new product, which has been redesigned to suit the road conditions at the engineering research centre (ERC), is in line with the Managing Director, Mr Ravi Kant's plan for the company, as part of which he has identified passenger moving vehicles, including buses, as the next growth area for the company.

For the company, acquiring the jigs and tools of the Trafik could prove to be a winner with the platform being flexible enough for anything from a pick-up to larger capacity people carriers such as an 8-9 seater vehicle.

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