Tatas eye major S African contract

Tata Motors Ltd is expecting to bag a large part of a South African government order for replacement of more than 150,000 mini-buses with new vehicles.

Tata Motors was the only Indian company among the five auto firms, including DaimlerChrysler and Isuzu, participating in the bids to bag the government order, a top company official, who declined to be named, said.

He said that the South African government planned to replace more than 150,000 mini-buses, called 'taxis', operating in the country and had invited global bids from commercial vehicle companies.

Tata vehicles offered value for money and cost economics for operating in South Africa, he said, adding Tatas were open to a joint venture and expected to garner a chunk of the order.

He said the 'formalities' of the South African government had yet to be known.

Earlier, Tata Motors showcased its SCFC 407EX turbo LCV, with enhanced fuel efficiency and payload capacity of 3.4 tonnes, at a conference in Bangalore.

Tata Motors Vice President Sales and Marketing CVBU Shyam Mani said the company, which grew by 44 per cent last year over the industry growth of 36 per cent, expected to beat the industry growth of 10 per cent to 12 per cent during 2004-05.

He said good monsoon and infrastructure projects had driven the growth of commercial vehicle segment during last fiscal and expected to sustain the growth.