Tata Motors, the country's largest automobile manufacturer, affirmed that it is anticipating the Indian auto sector to grow between six and seven per cent during ongoing fiscal, as compared to 9 to 10 per cent growth registered during 2011-12 period. The announcement came in Ahmedabad, the state capital of Gujarat on November 21, 2012 during an unveiling ceremony of the company's new product - Tata Safari Storme in Gujarat.
Commenting on projected growth by the company for the current fiscal, Neeraj Garg, Vice President, Passenger Car Business unit, Tata Motors, said, “Our estimate is that the market will grow at 6-7 per cent compared to last year.” The Vice President revealed that the company has already sold 30,000 utility vehicles in the Indian auto market till date this year. Expressing his delight Neeraj Garg further added, “The utility and sport utility vehicles market has grown by 31 per cent in the past seven months compared to same period last year, which is the fastest growing segment.”
Reportedly, during the 2011 – 12 period, Tata Motors witnessed sales of 55,000 utility vehicles alone in the auto market. Further, the company has sold over 6 lac utility vehicles in the last fourteen years, of which the sales of Safari SUV accounted for 1.25 lac units alone. Tata Motors introduced India's first true blood SUV Tata Safari in the year 1998.
The South East Asia's largest automobile maker introduced its brand new Tata Safari Storme SUV in second half of October 2012 in the Indian auto market. Since its launch on October 17, 2012, the Safari Storme has been booked more than 1,500 times in the country. The top end variant of the new Tata SUV is offered to Indian car lovers at a price tag of Rs. 13.91 lacs, while the base variant is available at a retail value of Rs. 9.95 lacs.
As per Tata Motors' projected sales estimates in the state of Gujarat, the utility vehicle market registers sales close to 2,000 units every month in 2012. Present at the ceremony, Deependra Sharma, Regional Manager, Tata Motors said, “We sold 1,800 UVs in Gujarat last year.”
