Tata Motors October sales at 68,009 nos, 5% up

Tata Motors total sales (including exports) of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles in October 2011 were 68,009 vehicles, higher by 5% over October 2010. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles for October 2011 were 63,838 nos., higher by 9% over 58,806 nos., sold in October last year.

Cumulative sales (including exports) for the company for the fiscal are 467,669 nos., a growth of 5% over 444,869 nos., sold last year.



Commercial Vehicles
The company's sales of commercial vehicles in October 2011 in the domestic market were 38,714 nos., a 13% growth compared to 34,328 vehicles sold in October last year. LCV sales were 21,892 nos., a growth of 6% over October last year. M&HCV sales stood at 16,822 nos., a growth of 23% over October last year.

Cumulative sales of commercial vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal are 281,848 nos., a growth of 18% over last year. Cumulative LCV sales are 168,792 nos., a growth of 24% over last year, while M&HCV sales stood at 113,056 nos., a growth of 10% over last year.

Passenger Vehicles
The passenger vehicles business reported a total sale and distribution offtake of 25,746 nos. (25,124 Tata + 622 Fiat) in the domestic market in October 2011, lower by 3% compared to 26,503 nos. (24,478 Tata + 2025 Fiat) in October last year. Sales of Tata passenger vehicles for October 2011 are at 25,124 nos., a growth of 3% over October last year. Sales of the Tata Nano were 3,868 nos., higher by 26% over October last year. The Indica range sales were 10,812 nos., higher by 11% over October last year. The Indigo range recorded sales of 6,268 nos., lower by 24% over October last year. The Sumo/ Safari/ Aria/ Venture range accounted for sales of 4,176 nos., a growth of 23% over October last year.

Jaguar Land Rover sales in India continued their upward trend. Cumulative sales and distribution offtake of passenger vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal are 159,886 nos. (150,572 Tata + 9,314 Fiat), against 187,539 nos. (173,651 Tata + 13,888 Fiat) last year, lower by 15%. Cumulative sales of Tata passenger vehicles were 150,572 nos., lower by 13% compared to 173,651 nos., till October last year. Cumulative sales of the Nano are 33,245 nos., lower by 18% compared to 40,467 nos., till October last year. Cumulative sales of the Indica range are 52,095 nos., lower by 11%. Cumulative sales of the Indigo family are 38,470 nos., lower by 26%. Cumulative sales of the Sumo/Safari/ Aria range are 26,762 nos., higher by 19%.



Exports
The company's sales from exports at 4,171 vehicles in October 2011 are lower by 30% compared to 5,950 vehicles in October last year. The cumulative sales from exports for the fiscal at 35,249 nos., are higher by 8% over 32,648 nos., in the same period last year.

Source: Tata Motors

Jaguar Land Rover aims to double sales this year in India

Jaguar Land Rover, the U.K.-based unit of Tata Motors Ltd. (TTM), aims to more than double its vehicle sales in India this financial year as a growing number of wealthy individuals lifts demand for luxury cars and sport-utility vehicles.



Jaguar Land Rover plans to sell about 1,800 vehicles in the year through March, up from the 891 it sold last year, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Dow Jones Newswires recently.

"From April to August, the company has sold more than 650 vehicles. At this rate, the target of about 1,800 for this fiscal year should be easy to achieve," said the person, who asked not to be named.

An increase in the number of millionaires and billionaires in India is driving luxury car sales, encouraging companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, BMW AG, Daimler AG, Porsche AG and Audi AG to introduce more models.

India's population of high-networth individuals grew 21% in 2010 to 153,000, according to the annual World Wealth Report issued by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and Capgemini. The high-networth individuals were classified as those with investable assets of at least $1 million, excluding primary residence, collectibles, consumables and consumer durables.

Jaguar Land Rover, which was acquired by Tata Motors from Ford Motor Co. for $2.3 billion in 2008, now sells the XJ, XF and XK sedans from Jaguar in India. It also sells the Freelander, Discovery and Range Rover SUVs from the Land Rover brand.

Jaguar Land Rover in May opened its first assembly plant in India in the western city of Pune. The plant will initially assemble Land Rover's Freelander 2 SUV from completely-knocked down kits imported from its Halewood manufacturing plant in Liverpool, U.K.

Tata Motors has previously said it eventually plans to assemble other Land Rover vehicles in Pune, but the person said such a move is unlikely this financial year.



After the acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover in 2008, sales of luxury vehicles slumped due to the global credit crunch. Sales have recovered since, turning Jaguar Land Rover into the biggest revenue and profit generator for Tata Motors.

Jaguar Land Rover sold 102,451 vehicles globally during the April-August period, up 10% from a year earlier. Sales in the past fiscal year rose 26% to 243,621 vehicles.