Jaguar, Land Rover roll into India

Mumbai, June 28 (PTI) Two of Britain's most luxurious and
elegant auto brands, Jaguar and Land Rover, were launched here
on Sunday at prices as rich as their features, although their
Indian owner Tata Motors swallowed a Rs 25 billion loss on
account of them.

Tata will sell the Jaguar, which had its origins in a
motorcycle sidecar company, XF and XKR series for between Rs
6.3 million and Rs 9.2 million, while Land Rover's Discovery
and Range Rover would be priced between Rs 6.3 million and Rs
8.9 million.

"It's quite a memorable day in the history and heritage
of Tata Motors... JLR has been well received and well
established in India (in the past), but over the years this
brand has been disconnected from India," Tata group chief
Ratan Tata told reporters here announcing the launch.

Tata Motors, the country's largest automobile company,
suffered a net loss of Rs 2,505.25 crore in 2008-09 mainly on
account of JLR that it acquired in March 2008. The expensive
JLR marquee suffered on account of the economic meltdown.

"We will measure the response to the brands here and at
an appropriate time, we will expand the brand to other cities,
which is yet to be determined," Jaguar Managing Director Mike
O' Driscoll said.

Asked how many units the company hopes to sell in India,
Land Rover Managing Director Phil Popham said: "These are
premium niche brands, so we are looking at relatively small
numbers. Our challenge is to establish the brands here." MORE
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