The name Tata immediately brings rock-solid built quality and luxury to one’s mind. The prime reason behind this revered legacy is Tata never settled for even an inch less than its standards. While being one of the crowned automakers across the globe, Tata holds an unshakable fanbase in India. You’ll certainly find yourselves spellbound as we retrospect the relentless journey of Tata motors.
Making of the legendary Indian automaker
The story of Tata Motors begins in 1945 when Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company was established to manufacture locomotives. In 1954, the corporation made a joint venture with Daimler-Benz popularly known as Mercedes-Benz to manufacture commercial vehicles. After 15 years of partnership with Mercedes-Benz, both the manufactures shook on producing Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in India, signed another joint venture, and Mercedes-Benz E220 rolled out the following year.
After conquering the commercial vehicle market, Tata took its first step in the passenger vehicle market by launching Tata Sierra in 1991. Innovation was something Tata has never shied away from throughout its history. The car maker has never failed to start new segments while reinventing others with their products.
Tata Sierra
This contemporary marvel had undraped Tata’s intent to deliver luxury and premium from the very beginning. Launched in 1991, Tata Sierra, the three-door SUV equipped with a 4X4 drivetrain was the first one to be designed and produced in India and was way ahead of its time. 2-spoke steering which Skoda Octavia has recently brought in was available in Tata Sierra back then. The impression that Audi has now was the impression Tata Sierra had back then. Power windows, power steering air conditioning, tachometer, and a big see-through rear window that offered a great panoramic view were a few of the many up-market features that made the SUV scintillatingly popular as a luxury car.
In 1997, TATA rolled out the Sierra with turbocharger added with the same 2.0L diesel engine and crafted the SUV even more premium than it was before. The SUV received many plush revisions, and to give you a cue, it had heated windshields in the rear along with the rear window wipers. Off-roading capabilities were unmatchable in both generations of the SUV and most have described it as just too much fun-to-drive on the motorways.
Tata Sumo
Millennials are the witness of the sensation Tata Sumo had sparked immediately after being launched in 1994. The robust 10-Seater SUV, Tata Sumo was named after its Marathi designer and former MD of Tata Motors, Sumant Moolgaokar. Tata Sumo rapidly impressed a beefy, heftily spacious, and rugged off-roader image on everyone’s mind. Most still claim they have never seen a more spacious car than the Tata Sumo. The SUV had sold more than 100,000 units before 1997. In the first generation, the 4WD version was only available for the military but from the second generation, Tata started offering it to civilians as well.
Through the course of generations, Tata kept on sprucing up the SUV while keeping its innate image alive for its fanbase. The powerful off-roading, phenomenal performance in urban areas, Tata’s built quality, and a special place in people’s hearts are the reasons why the SUV can be easily seen cruising through the length and breadth of India.
Tata Indica
While being launched in 1998, Tata Indica was three firsts. The first fully indigenous Indian passenger car, the first hatchback with a diesel engine in India, and the first passenger hatchback from Tata Motors. Via its fuel economy, zippy yet reliable engine, spacious cabin, and affordability, the car left no stone unturned in satiating Indian people’s needs and desires while making India proud of its first homegrown car. “More car per car” was the caption of its ad campaign. Tata Indica was a major hit and became one of the top-selling cars in India soon after its arrival.
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It was seen almost everywhere, middle-class Indians owned it for their families, frequent travellers owned it for fuel economy and the reliability that TATA had earned by its earlier vehicles wouldn’t let people think twice before purchasing Indica. The hatchback is still palpable among many who own it for its reliability and sense of long companionship attached to it.
Tata Safari
The thought of competing with Safari’s legacy worries most automakers, and there is a strong reason behind it. In 1998, a legend was born in Tata’s factories. Tata Safari, right after its arrival not only turned a lot of heads especially of the elite ones but also eclipsed India with its high-class premium aura. In those days, the SUV had everything one could wish for. A powerful 2.0L turbo diesel engine, spacious cabin, premium features, 4WD, and a rugged off-roading capability. The SUV even served the Indian Army and has been one of the preferred choices among them. Owing a Tata Safari was a code of prestige and people’s gazing eyes followed the SUV as it ran through the roads.
Through the course of up-gradation over the years, maintaining the Safari’s innateness was something Tata took on an utter serious note. This year Tata has rolled out the new avtar of Safari which is doubtlessly proving to be one of the toughest rivals for each one of its competitors.
Tata Motors Today
In the spell of expanding the business, Tata took many leaps that included joint-venturing with Marcopolo, Hitachi, Fiat Chrysler, and acquiring Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company. Tata now owns the premium brand Jaguar Land Rover that it bought from Ford in 2008. As a car maker, Tata has built on its success with revolutionary changes in philosophy and technology adoption to be ranked in the Fortune Global 500 in 2019.
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Ratan Tata with JLR executives
Ratan Tata with JLR executives
The journey of Tata highlights its belief in serving people with the best possible premium quality inspired by the European auto industry. While facilitating the Indians with segment dominating cars such as Tata Sierra, Tata Indica, Tata Safari, and Tata Sumo, the automaker has charmed its way up to the top.
Tata holds an image of delivering a rock-solid build quality and best-in-class performance with Tata Nexon, Tata Tiago, and Tata Altroz being perfect examples for that. The legendary manufacturer has turned its vision towards futuristic cars as well and launching Tata Nexon EV was the stepping stone towards it. Furthermore, Tata has promised 10 all-electric vehicles by 2025, further establishing itself as a market leader in a new segment. The remarkable respect Tata has earned in India is grounds for the voyage it intends to invincibly sail through for ages to follow
