Tata Motors sets modest target for Marina

Tata Motors has set itself a modest target of 4,000-6,000 vehicles per year for its new estate vehicle, the Indigo Marina.

The Marina, which will hit the showrooms on September 16, 2004, is the first new car to roll out of the company's Pune plant since its begun its capacity expansion activities earlier this year.

The car, which is seeing a belated launch mainly due to the production constraint at the Pune car plant, was originally showcased by Tata Motors at the Geneva Motor show in 2003 and then again at the Auto Expo 2004. The company is now working towards expanding capacity by 50 per cent from the current 450-500 cars per day.

Though other estate versions to hit the Indian roads, such as the Siena Weekender, Corsa Swing and Suzuki Baleno Altura, failed to take off, Tata Motors is confident of craving out a new market for its product.

"The other estates failed because the parent brand itself failed to connect with the people, moreover the pricing was also not in keeping with the product. They have demanded a huge premium over the sedan versions and have been able to offer only one fuel option. We have tried to remedy these problems with the Marina," said Rajiv Dube, vice president, commercial, passenger car business unit, Tata Motors.

This will be the company's second coming into the estate/station wagon segment. The Tata Estate, launched in 1992, was phased out a few years ago.

Tata Motors officials declined to reveal the pricing of the Marina only saying that it will be sub Rs 6 lakh. The basic Indigo is priced at around Rs 4.2 lakh, while the highest-end version of the mid-sizer is priced at Rs 5.15 lakh.

The Marina will be launched in five variants, three petrol and two diesel and will come fitted with a 1.4 litre engine.

Sales to Rover less than expected: Meanwhile, Tata Motors' sales of its Indica hatchback cars to MG Rover have been less than expected, V Sumantran, executive director of Tata Motors' passenger cars business unit, said on Tuesday.

"Volumes have not been as great as expected," he told reporters at a preview Indigo Marina. He said Tata Motors had shipped over 7,000 units of the Indica, sold as the CityRover, to the UK so far.

He said Tata Motors would meet Rover to review business plans, but added that this was according to plans.