Change of course: Timothy Leverton, Head (Advanced and Product Engineering), Tata Motors. — Shashi Ashiwal
Tata Motors, traditionally a major player in diesel vehicles, will increase its presence in the petrol segment by launching a new family of engines.
In a bid to move up the pecking order, the automaker will roll out the first engine under the new umbrella in 2014. At present, it is the fourth-largest passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country.
“We are talking a bolder strategy and this move into gasoline (petrol) is to address the long-term plans we have. We are not just trying to fill in the gaps…,” Timothy Leverton, Head (Advanced and Product Engineering) at Tata Motors, told Business Line.
Tata Motors, with its portfolio skewed towards diesel, will also continue to “innovate” on that platform.
The company plans to launch a hatchback and sedan next year, fitted with the new engine. This would be a 1.2-litre, turbo-charged engine with more torque, less friction and a better overall configuration.
“We are talking about 20-25 per cent more torque,” Leverton said, adding, “We are certainly thinking in terms of an engine that can provide the basis for the coming years”.
Going forward, the company will launch further engines under the family, he said without divulging details.
Cost difference
Despite India being a mileage sensitive market and diesel cars being more cost-efficient, petrol cars are more popular due to the comfort of ride and performance.
However, with the government planning to completely deregulate diesel prices, the operational cost difference between diesel and petrol cars is expected to come down.
The industry is currently operating at 60 per cent petrol and 40 per cent diesel. For Tata Motors, petrol accounts for just 5 per cent.
Ambitious schedule
The company expects the new engine launches and its earlier announced ‘Horizonext’ (a customer-centric, products-focused strategy) to help it “leapfrog into positions”. “This is not going to happen overnight but we have a very ambitious schedule in front of us. It is wrong to put a specific time scale on the relative positioning,” said Leverton.
Talking about electric vehicles, he said the big issue is the cost of energy storage and battery systems.
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Published on December 1, 2013
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