Indica, Indigo go to South Africa

Auto major Tata Motors Ltd on Monday launched its B-segment car Indica and sedan Indigo in South Africa and is expecting to sell around 10-12 per cent of the total marketshare in the country in a couple of years.

Both the cars were unveiled by Tata Group Chairman Ratan N Tata at the 'Auto Africa Expo 2004,' which opened in Johannesburg, Tata Motors executive director (passenger car unit) V Sumantran said from South Africa.

The company would introduce four models of its hatchback Indica whose two models would be available with 1.4 litre 56 KW petrol engine, while the higher-end versions would be rolled out with 64 KW engines, he said.

The 1.4 litre 64 KW Indigo sedan would be offered in two versions, 'Standard' and 'Luxury.'

The cars would be shipped in as completely built-up units (CBUs), while Accordian Investments, a joint venture between Imperial Group, Ukhamba Holding (Pty) Ltd and Tata Africa would handle the marketing, he said.

Accordian Investments, which presently manages distribution of Tata pick-ups in South Africa, would set up a network of 20 dealers in the first phase for marketing of these cars, he said.

Earlier announcing the launch Ratan Tata said, "We are confident that Indica and Indigo will offer superior value to our South African customers."

"We are hopeful that our company will grow in South Africa and will have an opportunity to introduce additional models and participate in more product segments," he said.

With close to half-a-million vehicles sold in the Indian market, Indica and Indigo, had also made entries into several overseas markets, including Europe, Sumantran said.

The company expects to sell over 10-12 per cent of the total marketshare in that country, he said.

Tata Motors has been selling its medium commercial vehicles and buses in South Africa through Tata Automobile Corporation South Africa (TACSA) since 1997, while Tata Africa (a Tata Group company) is also setting up a bus assembly unit in Johannesburg, with an investment of rand 40 million.