Betting big on Africa, Tata Motors [Get Quote] on Wednesday said the company will expand its businesses in the continent, including starting of assembly operations of Semi Knock Down (SKD) pick-up trucks in Senegal and similar activities for buses in Congo.The company is also keeping an open mind to explore the possibilities of taking its Rs 1-lakh car 'Nano' to Africa in the future.
"We have a long history in Africa and our buses and vehicles are plying in the continent for many decades. We want to take part in the development and growth of Africa," Ravi Kant, managing director, Tata Motors said.
"One opportunity could be to take part in personal transportation, in which 'Nano' can play a role," he said, however, adding "right now this is in the thought process".
When asked about the total investments planned for its overall expansions in Africa, Kant said it was difficult to put definite numbers.
The company, which has supplied Complete Knock Down (CKD) form of buses in Senegal, is now planing to start SKD operations for pick-up trucks from this year at the Senbus facility, he said.
The company is also conducting a feasibility study to start SKD Assembly operations for buses in Congo. It has already supplied 228 buses to the Congolese government for urban transportation.
"We will also start selling passenger cars from this financial year in Congo," Kant said. In South Africa, which is Tata Motors' biggest market in the continent, Kant said the company is setting up a new manufacturing facility at Rosslyn. The company had acquired the manufacturing facility from Nissan there.
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