Tata Motors launches cars in South Africa

Mumbai: Tata Motors yesterday announced the launch of the Indica hatchback and the Indigo sedan in the South African market. "The cars will be available at dealerships in a month's time," an official statement said. Both cars were unveiled at the Auto Africa Expo 2004 in Johannesburg, by Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Group.

There will be four derivatives of the Indica and two of the Indigo on offer."With the introduction of this range, Tata will be one of the few manufacturers in South Africa to be present in almost all the segments of the automobile industry - right from small cars to heavy commercial vehicles.

"Tata Africa is also setting up a bus assembly unit in Johannesburg with an investment of rand 40 million," the statement said.

The distribution and marketing of Tata passenger cars in South Africa will be handled by Accordian Investments (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between the Imperial Group, Ukhamba Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Tata Africa.

A network of 20 dealers will be appointed in the first phase for marketing the cars.Accordian Investments has already been managing the distribution of Tata pick-up trucks in South Africa for the past few months.