Tata Won't Build Jaguar or Land Rover in India

NEW DELHI, India — Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, has confirmed that there will be no local assembly of any Jaguar or Land Rover models in India. For the moment, he adds, only imports from the U.K. will be considered. He also said that the Indian ownership of the British brands, which the Indian company acquired earlier this year from Ford, does not imply that they have to be brought into the country in a hurry. 'There is no insistence from us to bring these brands to India,' Ratan Tata said. 'The launch of these brands in India will take their own natural course and will be a commercial decision.'He added: 'Both Jaguar and Land Rover have looked at India and are rather surprised with the potential of the Indian market. However, when we do bring in these models, they will all be CBU imports.' What this means to you: Ratan Tata has no intention of diluting the reputation or image of the premium British brands, for which he paid a handsome price. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Correspondent