| While automobile manufacturers were expecting the quarter of April to September, 2007, to grow by close to 15 per cent, the actual growth has just been above 8 per cent so far. |
| "While the growth rate of the utility vehicle segment in the country hasn't really touched what was expected, there is a general feeling that with the launch of new models by SUV players, eventually the segment will grow by 10-12 per cent," said S G Saksena, Head Product Group-Utility Vehicles, Passenger Car Business Unit, Tata Motors. |
| He said that the UV market was going through a period of stabilisation and higher interest rates have also contributed to the slow growth. |
| However, he added this was a short phenomenon as the market would pick up on the back of the upcoming festive season. |
| The Safari Dicor 2.2 VTT range starts from Rs 7.34 lakh (ex-showroom Ahmedabad) and is powered by a new 2.2 L Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) engine. |
| Due to the turbocharger incorporating Variable Turbine Technology, maximun power and torque are raised to 140 PS (3,000 rpm) and 320 Nm (2,200 rpm) respectively. Tata Motors have sold about 16,000 Safaris in 2006-07. |
| The company also launched the Sumo Victa Turbo Di, an upgraded range of its Sumo Spacio which starts from Rs 5.58 lakh (ex-showroom Ahmedabad). |
| The new range, fitted with a new 3-litre turbo-charged Di engine is said to deliver improved fuel economy, higher power and torque. |
| Tata Motors has sold nearly 48,000 utility vehicles in the domestic market last fiscal, including 32,000 of the Sumo range. Since the launch of the Sumo in 1994, over 356,000 units have been produced. |
| Although the company has exported Sumo in the past, company officials said there were no immediate plans to export the latest range. |
| For the latest Safari, the company is looking at newer export markets having exported earlier Safari models to Europe, South Africa and countries in Asia. |
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