After witnessing the success of market leader Maruti Suzuki in the used-car segment, Mumbai-based Tata Motors today launched its pre-owned car business in major cities. The company intends to cover other parts of the country in a phased manner.
The certified pre-owned car business, christened Tata Motors Assured, has been launched on a pilot basis through 15 dealers in 10 cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Vapi (Gujarat).
S Krishnan, V-P (commercial-passenger car business unit), Tata Motors, said, "The Tata Motors Assured pre-owned car programme has been conceived to provide convenience of a one-stop solution to customers, willing to exchange their existing cars for new Tata cars. Besides, it also offers an array of reliable and high quality certified pre-owned Tata cars, which will come with a one-year/ 20,000 km extended warranty and three free services."
The Indian used-car market is in a nascent stage and dominated by the unorganised sector. According to estimates, only about 20 per cent of the used-car market is organised with players such as Maruti Suzuki (True Value), Hyundai (Advantage), Ford (Assured), Mahindra (First Choice) and Honda (Auto Terrace).
More than 1.5 million used cars and utility vehicles are sold in the country every year.
Tata Motors aims to offer a choice of reliable and certified pre-owned Tata cars, which will be refurbished in Tata Motors’ authorised dealer’s workshops. “Each Tata Motors Assured certified pre-owned car will undergo stringent inspection by Tata Motors engineers," said a company release.