JLR mulling assembly of more Land Rover products in India

Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata said the group’s British firm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), is looking at increasing its assembly operations in India, besides planning to start assembling in China as well.

Tata Motors is looking at the emerging markets very seriously to increase its sales and also add new products to the Jaguar and Land Rover line-up.

“Assembly operations in India have commenced for the Land Rover Freelander. Assembly of other Land Rover products are also under consideration,” Tata told shareholders of Tata Motors in its Annual Report for 2010-11.

In May this year, JLR opened its first assembly plant in Pune to assemble sports utility vehicle Land Rover Freelander 2 from completely knocked down (CKD) kits shipped from the Halewood manufacturing unit in Liverpool, UK.

Commenting on the Chinese operations of JLR, Tata said: “The company is also considering various options for assembly and localisation of selected products in China, which has become an important market for the company.”

Tata Motors and JLR are coming up with a joint engine development programme with an aim to set up manufacturing facilities both in the UK and India. It will also help to optimise the synergetic strengths between JLR and Tata Motors in India.

Info Source: ET