Tata Motors to enter Russian market in a big way

Mumbai: Indian auto major Tata Motors is planning to enter the Russian market with a range of products, as part of its global growth strategy.

Tata Motors has already started assembly of its LPT 613 light commercial vehicles (LCV) with its Russian partner AMUR and is planning to launch a diverse range of small, medium and heavy trucks and buses in the Russian market.

A company spokesman said that over 500 Tata LCVs are already on the Russian roads and the company is planning to assemble 1,000 trucks with AMUR in the next year, P G Shankar, head of Tata Motors' international business, said on the sidelines of the Moscow International Automobile Salon.

"Russia is a focus market in Tata Motors' global growth strategy. We have decided to enter Russia not just to sell our vehicles but also to be part of the Russian economy and grow with our customers by offering the best value proposition through products and services," Shankar said.

Tata Motors hope to sell about 6,000 commercial vehicles per annum over the next three years, he said.

"We are also exploring opportunities for investments in product development, marketing and even manufacturing. We have a long-term vision. We have already localised over 55 per cent of our LCV assembly and Tata Motors are here to stay," Mr Shankar added.

Tata Motors is one of the largest companies in the Tata Group with a total income of Rs10,810 crore ($2.35 billion). More than three million Tata vehicles ply on Indian roads making Tata a dominant force in the Indian automobile industry.

Tata Motors is India's only fully integrated automobile manufacturer with a portfolio that covers trucks, buses, utility vehicles and passenger cars. Tata Motors has also the unique distinction of giving India its only indigenously built passenger car - The Tata Indica and the premium feature sedan - The Tata Indigo.