Speculations are rife that Indian auto major, Tata Motors is developing a new sub-1000 cc hatchback that will be positioned between Tata Nano and Tata Indica. The hatchback is said to be worked upon under the codename ‘KITE’ and is expected to be rolled out in domestic market by end of 2015. This hatchback will be a part of company’s long term Horizonext 2020 strategy that has been adapted with the motive of revivifying current Tata cars and bringing new products. However, there is no official confirmation from the company yet, but it is being said that the new hatchback will aim at the mass segment and compete with cars like Maruti Celerio and Ford Figo.
Sources close to the development reveal that Tata Motors will manufacture KITE at its Sanand facility located in Gujarat. Sanand facility has the capacity of rolling out 2,50,000 units annually, but owing low demand the company is currently not able to utilise the complete capacity of the Sanand facility. Industry insiders opine that 1,50,000 units of the new vehicle is expected to rolled out from Sanand unit, hence optimizing the manufacturing capacity at Sanand.
Tata Motors’ performance in the sales front has been low in the last couple of months as the accrued sales dropped by 38 per cent in last fiscal as against FY 13. Sources suggest that the new vehicle yet in inception stage is being developed in tandem with the MY15 programme and is likely to help Tata gain volumes in the compact hatchback segment that constitutes a major chunk of the domestic sales.
Two new products to be rolled out soon under the Horizonext 2020 strategy include Zest compact sedan and Bolt premium hatchback. Both the vehicles underpin Indica platform, these vehicles will come equipped with advanced features and flaunt contemporary designs unlike other Tata cars in its current line-up. These vehicles will be launched within couple of months in India and are highly anticipated. Tata Motors will offer these vehicles with an option of automated manual transmission that make them eagerly awaited vehicles in India as currently only Maruti Celerio is available with AMT option.
