Looking for partnership for new platform: Tata Motors

Tata Motors is still looking for partnership with other global automobile companies for its new advanced modular platform (AMP) despite talks with VW group firm Skoda failing to fructify, according to company Managing Director and CEO Guenter But-schek.

The homegrown auto major is seeking to share its new vehicle platform AMP with potential partner to bring volume and create economies of scale, while also creating access to new technologies keeping in mind future opportunities in the Indian market, he said. "We are still seeking for opportunities ... We are still open and we are still elaborating opportunities ... We are open for all kind of collaborations," Butschek told PTI. He, however, said there are no particular companies to name as potential partner at present.

Earlier this month, Tata Motors and Skoda decided not to pursue their proposed long-term partnership due to feasibility issues, just over four months after they had entered into the agreement. He said from a technical feasibility point of view, there would have been a 'lot of good reasons' to continue with the VW/Sokda partnership but "it was not only about technical feasibility in terms of product attributes, cost and rate and performance". "It was also about certain expected financial thresholds, seeming opportunities, leveraging the volume and bringing economies of scale to the two of us. Where at the end of the discussion, we were on both sides short against initial expectations," Butschek said. He further said Tata Motors' motive behind seeking a partner was to bring volume.

Earlier this month, Tata Motors and Skoda decided not to pursue their proposed longterm partnership due to feasibility issues