Thaindian News

Rosslyn (South Africa), July 22 (IANS) Commercial vehicle major Tata Motors Friday said it has opened an assembly plant at Rosslyn, in the Gauteng province of South Africa, to roll out medium and heavy commercial vehicles ranging from four to 50 tonnes capacity.

The plant with an annual capacity of 3,650 vehicles has been established with an investment of $16.23 million (R110 million), the company said.

To begin with, the company would be assembling two models, the Tata LPT 813 and Tata LPT 1518, which are already popular in South Africa.

“With a comprehensive product portfolio, Tata Motors is now at a stage where it can consolidate its international business in its chosen markets. Step by step, we shall expand the footprint of our international business matching markets and products,” said group chief executive and managing director, Tata Motors, Carl-Peter Forster.

Tata Motors started exports to South Africa in 1998, with commercial vehicles. Exports of passenger vehicles began in 2004.

Currently, there are over 20 commercial vehicle models — from pick-ups to 49-tonne prime movers, and passenger vehicle from 14-seater buses to luxury coaches and five car models — Tata Indica Vista, Tata Indica, Tata Indigo, Tata Indigo SW and Tata Safari in diesel & petrol variants, meeting the needs of the South African market.

Speaking at the occasion, South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said the launch of the plant can be attributed to South Africa’s investment friendly policies.

“This will be an opportunity for further expansion of Tata Motors in South Africa,” said Davies.

Tata has an already established state-of-the-art technical training centre in Germiston, Johannesburg, operating since 2006, for skill development of dealer mechanics in South Africa and various other countries in the continent.

The company has thus far exported over 32,000 commercial vehicles and 31,000 passenger vehicles to South Africa.