Tata Motors’ amazing journey towards global recognition

With a portfolio that covers a comprehensive range of cars, trucks, buses, defence vehicles and more, Tata Motors Limited is recognized as one of the leading automobile manufacturers in the world today. Commencing operations in 1954 with Commercial Vehicles (CVs) in India, the company’s marque can now be found both on and off-road in over 175 countries around the globe. Here’s how Tata Motors went from being an Indian company to the globally recognized brand that we know today.

Tata Motors’ CVs around the world

Having a presence in over 46 countries around the globe, Tata Motors is without a doubt among the top 10 CV makers in the world today. The company started creating ripples with the launch of Tata 407 Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) in 1986. The truck became popular not only in India but also in several other countries around the world, thanks to its reliability. Here are some of the most important milestones that the CV sector of Tata Motors achieved in countries abroad:

• 1991 – Tata Motors entered into a Joint Venture (JV) with Nitol Motors to set up NITA Company Ltd., the first assembly set up of the company outside India. In the years to come, Tata Motors grew its assembly operations in different forms across Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ukraine, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria & Tunisia.
• 1993 – Tata Motors sets up a JV with Cummins Engine Inc. The tie-up enables Tata to introduce powerful diesel engines with far lesser carbon emissions.
• 2004 – Tata Motors rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in this year, marking the listing of the company on the bourse. The company also acquires South Korean truck manufacturer Daewoo in this year. Together, they unveil the Tata World Truck range for sale in South Korea, South Africa, SAARC nations and the Middle East.
• 2006 – Tata Motors joins hands with the Brazil-based Marcopolo S.A and launched the Tata Marcopolo Bus in the following years
• 2008 – Tata Motors sets up Tata Motors Thailand, its first national sales company in markets around the globe
• 2009 – Tata Motors acquires the Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Hispano Carrocera. Starbus and Globus range of buses, manufactured by this new venture, rolled out in the coming years.
• 2011 – Tata Motors Indonesia was established as a fully owned subsidiary of Tata Motors
• 2012 – Tata Motors launches its next generation platform of heavy trucks, Tata Prima, in the markets around the world
• 2014 – Tata Motors launches its new platform for light trucks and buses, Tata Ultra, in the international markets

• 2015 – Tata Motors launches SkillPro – a unique skill development programme that trains aspiring youth, transforms them into skilled technical professionals and makes them employment ready

As of today, the commercial vehicles wing of Tata Motors can be seen in over 46 countries of Africa, ASEAN & Far East, Latin America, SAARC and the Middle East.