Page 15 - Sands of Time Special Issue on Tata Motors Diamond Jubilee

14 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020 15

w tata nexon eV 2020.

The political turmoil in the state led Tata Motors achieved, first with the Nexon EV will debut in Q4 FY2019-
to violent protests at Singur owing to unveiling of the path-breaking Nano, 20. Tigor EV – the first electric
the allotment of land to Tata Motors. and then by acquiring two of the vehicle developed by Tata Motors,
To ensure the safety of its employees world’s most prestigious automotive especially for fleet customers and
Tata Motors was forced to withdraw brands, Jaguar and Land Rover. corporates – has a range of 213 km.
and re-locate to Sanand in Gujarat. FROM THE It has been well-received by fleets
In the following years several new and the government and is now also
Without doubt, Nano was the star models and variants were rolled out available for purchase by individual
by Tata Motors. Currently, Nexon EV
w ratan n. tata speaking at the launch of the first indica in 1998. of the Tata stable in 2007-08. COLLECTION customers.
Time magazine acknowledged this is the first Indian car with the Global
OF THE
Indica was Ratan Tata’s dream and The Indica was followed in quick 2004. By 2005, the company was achievement by including the Nano NCAP (Global New Car Assessment Next on the cards is Altroz EV. Tata is
he wanted a car with the space succession by the launch of the successful in rolling out its 5,00,000 in a list of the “The dozen most Programme) 5 star rating for safety. equipping the hatchback with ABS,
of an Ambassador, the size of a Indica V2 in 2001 and the Tata passenger vehicle. important cars of all time starting Nexon EV uses an advanced, safe dual front airbags, ISOFIX mounts,
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
Maruti Zen, economy of diesel and Indigo (“India on the Go”) in 2002. from 1908 to the present”, along with lithium ion battery pack, which has rear parking sensors, seatbelt
at the price close to Maruti 800. With these successes, the company legendary cars like the Ford Model T, been rigorously tested for Indian reminder and high-speed warning
“This project is attributed to me TELCO, which was renamed as Tata aimed at bringing out a car which the Volkswagen Beetle, Chevy Belair, conditions. Besides, the battery as standard. Tata has nailed the
emotionally,” said Ratan Tata and Motors in 2003 launched the City could be affordable by the common Toyota Corolla, the Mini and the pack is water and dustproof and safety game as the Altroz has scored
added: “Not so. It is just that I Rover – Indicas fashioned for the man at a price tag of around one lakh Honda Civic. has a robustly designed casing a prestigious 5 star Global NCAP
had a strong conviction that our European market. The first batch of rupees. to withstand impact. Nexon EVs crash-test rating.
engineers, who would put a rocket of City Rovers rolled out from It is hard to think of any company come with an 8-year warranty on
into space, could produce our the Tata Motors stables in 2003, Tata’s foray into West Bengal ran into and not just in the Tata firmament, the battery and motor to provide Contemporary design, elegance
own car. And when we took up the quickly followed by Indica Marina in rough weather for no fault of theirs. surpassing the double distinction that absolute peace of mind to customers. and versatility are features of each
challenge, we went out and got of these vehicles which have taken
expertise wherever it was necessary. the automobile market by storm and
Everything we had in it was ours. have become a fashion statement for
So to me it was a great feeling of the rich and the famous.
national achievement.”
ConCluSion
The Indica – “India’s Car”, captured
the imagination of the nation. Prior The story of Tata Motors will
to this, no other car in India could continue. Several new glorious
lay claim to being indigenously chapters will perforce be added
designed and manufactured. The from time to time. With its inherent
Indica catapulted India into an strengths of technology and human
elite group of just 10 nations that resources painstakingly built up
have manufactured their own car. over the years the Company is well
It wasn’t long before the Indica poised to meet the challenges of
firmly established itself as the the 21 century and ensure that the
st
people’s favourite. In 2001, the movement called Tata Motors grows
Indica became the fastest-selling from strength to strength.
automobile in Indian history when it
chalked up sales of 100,000 in less raJenDra praSaD narla
than 18 months. w Tata nano 2009. w tata altroz 2020. Archivist, Tata Central Archives

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