"We are certainly having an interest in it (Jaguar and Land Rover)," Mr Tata told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devils Advocate programme.
Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata on Saturday confirmed that his group was interested in acquiring Ford Motor’s Jaguar and Land Rover brands.
“We are certainly having an interest in it (Jaguar and Land Rover),” Mr Tata told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate programme. Asked about the details, he, however, declined to comment.
Global reach
Tata said the bid for the two auto marquees were not merely meant to make the group’s international presence felt, specially after the successful acquisition of Anglo-Dutch firm Corus by Tata Steel.
“It is to get ourselves the kind of scales and think big to give ourselves the global reach and to take ourself from single economy,” he said.
On the much talked small car, he said the company was confident of rolling it out in the market by “the middle or the third quarter of 2008”.
With doubts being raised over Tata Motors would be able to price the car at Rs 1 lakh due to increasing input costs, he said the company hoped to stick to the original price. Asked if that would be on-road or ex-factory price, he said: “Let that be a surprise.”
He also dispelled fears that the car does not meet safety standards, saying the product will meet the initial standards that will be required and it will meet the safety standards and crash test standards.
