Tata Motors’ owner, Ratan Tata, confirmed today in the company’s annual report that the Indian carmaker is considering developing an engine in cooperation with its Jaguar Land Rover division.
“To optimize the synergistic strengths between JLR and Tata Motors in India, an examination is also under way on a joint engine development program which would have manufacturing facilities both in the U.K. and India,” Ratan Tata stated.
Tata Motors is currently sourcing engines for Jaguar and Land Rover from the brands’ previous owner, Ford, from which it bought the two British companies in 2008. The move to a joint-development engine program would ensure the automakers’ independence from their previous owner.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, a viable option for Tata could be to upgrade its plant in Pune, India, which began assembling Land Rover’s Freelander SUV in May.
However, Tata isn’t restricting its operations in India and Great Britain. It also has an eye on the biggest car market of the world: in a meeting on June 30, the company said it is “considering options for assembly and localization of selected Jaguar Land Rover products in China”.
Besides, things are looking good for the two British manufacturers: for the fiscal year ending March 2011, Jaguar and Land Rover combined worldwide sales were up by 9% compared to the previous year, to 62,090 units. In addition, both brands have increased their share in the U.S. in first half of 2011 by 13.9%, selling 23,702 units.
Via Autonews [Sub. Req]
