Getting the Big Cat...

The setting was classic Basque country, rolling green hills striped with grape vines, and the great Pyrenees mountains in the background.

We were driving down fabulous winding roads to the region’s most famous vineyard in what held out to be one of the most promising new sports cars in recent times. More importantly, it possibly was a harbinger of the return of great British engineering. But, interestingly, the pervading flavour was all-Indian.

Test driving a bunch of Jaguar F-Types, we stopped at the vineyard to savour some prized vintages and join the Harvard-educated vintner for lunch.

In between swirling and tasting the reds, the vintner had misgivings about not launching his wines in India and hoped it wasn’t too late. Seated amidst our raucous group of Indian journalists and talking animatedly in-between mouthfuls, Ray Hutton might have seemed an odd man out.

But to Indian motoring writers, he was a familiar figure — a frequent traveller to India, a keen follower of the Indian automotive scene and a contributor to a couple of Indian motoring magazines.

This is what makes Ray’s new book, Jewels in the Crown: How Tata of India Transformed Britain’s Jaguar and Land Rover , an interesting read. The perspective he brings is unique, because while he has effectively had a ringside view of the developments at JLR during his long writing career, he also brings his candid, independent views on the ups and downs that one of Britain’s last surviving automotive brands has had historically.

The significant turnaround at JLR over the last five years is reason enough for a book on it. As Indians we may justifiably cite national pride as sufficient cause for this retelling. However, to the many non-Indians who were incredulous that the relatively obscure Tata of India was handed haloed British brands, Ray has clarified that it is not so much global automotive dominance as the ability to nurture and motivate such strong brands that was needed.

The book also raises several pertinent points that have been in the minds of many: Were the ingredients for success already in JLR before its takeover by Tata? How did Ford not see the potential for such a revival? And are all those who claimed it was more pride than prudence behind the high price Tata paid for two fading British brands now eating humble pie? Ray’s three-decade work in covering the many issues affecting the global automotive industry shines through in this work.

Jewels in the Crown largely centres around the past decade of JLR’s history — the five years before and after its takeover. Each of its chapters walks the reader through the trying times and the desperate measures taken during the years the iconic carmaker changed hands from British to German to American and, finally, Indian owners.

Shedding light on the mistakes Tata made during the initial years of the takeover, the book explains how it is not some “oriental magic” but simple managerial principles — capital, vision and leadership — that helped the Indian conglomerate pull off the astounding turnaround.

JLR’s future does have its uncertain bits, but the fact that the latest addition to the British royal family went home from hospital in the latest Range Rover perhaps holds out a deeper message. One that will likely go so far as to rev up Tata Motors’ sagging fortunes back home.

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