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Tata Motors has launched a compact sedan Zest, the first new offering from the company in nearly four years, in an attempt to claw back its position in the domestic passenger car market. The automaker, which intends to launch two new cars every year till 2020, will also roll out a hatchback some time this year.
The prices of the petrol versions of the Zest range from ₹4.64 lakh to ₹5.99 lakh, while that of diesel models from ₹5.64 lakh to ₹6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
“This is the first of the products that has been unfurled under the HorizoNext programme (a customer-focused strategy for passenger vehicles), which was announced a year ago. This is the first manifestation of that project, and is part of our intense focus on products,” said Ranjit Yadav, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors.
The company, hit by the continuing industry slowdown, is banking on new offerings to regain its lost market share in the passenger vehicle segment.
“We will also launch the Bolt this year,” Yadav said, referring to the new hatchback. He, however, did not divulge the exact date of the launch. The Zest, on sale through Tata Motors’ 470 outlets, is being manufactured at the company’s Pimpri and Ranjangaon plants in Pune. The vehicle is available in four trims in petrol and five diesel models.
New engines The petrol versions are being shipped with Revotron 1.2T engines, the first of the new family of petrol engines from Tata Motors. The diesel trims come with 1.3 litre Quadrajet engines, which were developed in collaboration with Italy’s Magneti Marelli. The Zest, which will compete with the likes of Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and Maruti Swift Dzire, is being launched with 29 new features.
“We have also been protected for some of the future regulations such as dual airbags,” said Timothy Leverton, president and head, Engineering Research Centre, Tata Motors.
The company is also offering a three-year or 1 lakh km warranty and a three-year or 45,000 km free maintenance contract. The petrol version gives a mileage of 17.6 km and the diesel 23 km a litre.
Tata Motors’ vehicle sales fell 28 per cent to 1,10,612 units in the first quarter ended June 30. Its standalone net profit fell 78.65 per cent to ₹393.65 crore against ₹703.26 crore in the year-earlier period.
On Tuesday, the company’s scrip gained 5.92 per cent to ₹473.90 on the BSE.
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