Business Standard

Tata Motors to fuel biz with ~4,000-crore investment

- SHUBHAM PARASHAR

Saddled with losses in its domestic commercial and passenger vehicle business, home-grown auto major Tata Motors on Monday reiterated its turnaround plan focused on cost reduction, new products, and bringing in efficienci­es in the supply chain.

The company said it would invest ~4,000crore this year. Of that ~2,500crore will go to the passenger vehicle business.

Calling the commercial vehicle (CV) its‘ back bone’, the company said it would invest ~1,500 cr ore in the business over the next few years.

Guenter Butschek, managing director, said the company had been“far too complacent” and this allowed competitor­s to grow their market share. Over the past two-three years, Tata Motors, while remaining the biggest commercial vehicle maker, has lost its market share in certain segments to rivals. The company is targeting a 5 per cent gain in market share in the CV business through a host of launches and improvemen­t in retail, especially in microcitie­s.

The company has a 47.5 percent share in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment while its share in light commercial vehicle segment is 38 per cent. Tat a Motors Chief Financial Officer (CFO) CR Rama krishn an said the company was targeting an improvemen­t of more than ~1,500 cr ore in the bottom line at a standalone level. However, he refrained from specifying anytime line.

Talking to the media a day before the company’ s 72 nd annual general meeting, Butschek hoped the company would soon see a turn around. His optimism hinged on the stand alone business, excluding the company’ s profitable luxury car business, JLR. The stand alone business incurred a loss of ~2,480 cr ore in FY 17 and losses continued

COMPANIES Most carmakers lose share in a growing market

in Q1 this year.

The company’ s stock has been battered in the recent weeks and it hit a 52- week low of ~358 on August 11. It closed at ~374.55 on Monday, down 1.62 percent over the previous close.

Tat a Motors said it would review its manufactur­ing foot print both for commercial and passenger vehicles to look at developing greater synergies

Private producer Tat a Power has installed its first electric vehicle charging station in Mumbai, as part of a sustainabl­e business initiative. The company plans to setup charging station sat various locations in Mumbai and is already in talks with various stakeholde­rs.

 ?? PHOTO: BLOOMBERG ?? Tata Motors MD Guenter Butschek said the company had been “far too complacent” and this allowed competitor­s to grow their market share
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG Tata Motors MD Guenter Butschek said the company had been “far too complacent” and this allowed competitor­s to grow their market share

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