What’s Wrong with Tata Motors? An Open Letter To the MD

[gaddambhargavareddy]

So you have never driven Sedan class Vista, that is why you are saying like this

Go and drive Sedan class Vista VX, you opinion will definitely change from co-driver seat to Driver seat. We have wonderful QJD under the hood, Comfortable driving position which keeps you fresh after driving some 1000Kms in 24hrs, Excellent breaks with ABS will provide confident to stop the vehicle at High speeds(100KMPH+) , Excellent suspension setup and so more.

That is why I always say Vista is best for Indian highways and country roads. None of the hatchbacks can beat Vista's comfort level.

TATA is best known for their VFM cars but tata have to increate the product portfolio to gain market share to be frank tata dont have any game changer products like maruti swift and honda amaze tata have to design game changer products

 

[ss80]

Appu:

That is what I too had in mind, I have to drive a Vista pretty soon, I could not ask the cabbie if I could take over the driving seat as other employees were there and they might complain, probably I will try some test drive car in Concorde.

Everytime I complemented the car, the driver just kept smiling and now I guess, I know why.

 

[Tornado]

OBITUARY

Tata Motors managing director Karl Slym passes away - The Times of India
Karl slym left for heavenly abode
RIP Karl.

 

[tdcarlover]

may what you started make a 100 models bloom for TML!

 

[Gurrala74]

Friends,

Since the sudden demise of Mr.Karl Slym, I think we should either change the title to something like "An open letter to MD" or should close this thread. I was shocked to read this news today on TAI first time and could not believe it, then gone through the news papers today and confirmed my self. R.I.P Slym

 

[jagrover]

No more open letters to Karl Slym..

I'm not out of the shock yet..!!

 

[tdcarlover]

Perhaps the TAI chiefs could make a summary of our deliberations and give TML and then we respectfully close the thread. The auto expo and new products suddenly in perspective seem so irrelevant. God bless Mrs Slym and family.
Maaaaaaaaaaaaan

 

[sambit_mech]

Very sad that Tata's top boss commits suicide or it's a homicide case. In either case, it's very sad. I'm going to subscribe that it's an accident.

 

[anshuman8]

Very sad that Tata's top boss commits suicide or it's a homicide case. In either case, it's very sad. I'm going to subscribe that it's an accident.

There seems to be quite suspense on the theory how he died. However I got the news on 26th itself with my brother in law who works for TATA Motors. It is really shocking.

@ Mods please change the thread title properly / or close this thread.

 

[Gurrala74]

^^Anshuman, please check the thread title already changed and we can continue the discussion related to this thread here addressing the issues to MD of TATA Motors. There is a separate thread opened for Mr.Karl Slyms death
http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...14-tata-motors-m-d-karl-slym-passes-away.html

 

[TAUREAN CZAR]

Tata Motors Aspires For Top 3 Position in Indian Market

Tata motors aspires to once again climb up the sales ladder to become a niche player in the Indian market. Mayank Pareek, Tata Motors newly appointed President of passenger vehicles business commented that the company has taken steps to climb up into the top 3 slots. Very much high aspirations, but they need to work hard to climb up, both in value and customer satisfaction. Hope they make it, but it is a hercules task as other are up in the ante launching models at faster pace.

With a major setback in sales over the past two to three years, Tata Motors made sure to go back to the drawing board in a bid to revive its lost momentum and has been working on new products, technologies and restructuring in-house operations to create a completely new brand ‘Tata’ fit for individual customers. While the company’s first of the many new launches the Zest has made that possible to a small extent, the company plans to bridge that gap further with the new Bolt and its very aggressive marketing strategy.
In a recent interview, ex-Maruti man Mayank Pareek, Tata Motors newly appointed President of passenger vehicles business stated his vision to become one of the top 3 auto manufacturers in India from the current 6th position. Looking at segmented marketing with the upcoming Bolt, the automaker is ensuring to reach out to the right customers and not take a ‘one size fits all approach’. With the Bolt in particular, the company is targeting younger customers with its HORIZONEXT strategy that ensures attractive design, better in-car connectivity and drivability from the new models.

Read more at: motorbeam.com

 

[aysrinivas]

Re: TATA Motors aspires for Top 3!

Tata Motors are rather over ambitious in their aspirations, if I should say. They would be lucky to retain 5th position in the next couple of years ( for passenger car segment). Instead of implying a causal attribution to external factors , they need to look at their core operations and change it from there- perhaps that's what they are planning to do.

Tata's need to make what people want to buy but they have so far given us what they want to sell - e.g. Tata are the last ones to start selling Automatic cars where as Hyundai and Maruthi started selling them from at least 2003 or so .

Perhaps they need a new brand name for passenger vehicles as historically the name Tata has primed people to think it as a taxi or commercial vehicles. In India no matter what, the women in the house has last say most of the times in choosing which brand of car you are going to buy - I do not think for bosses at home the name Tata cars is as appealing as a Hyundai , Honda, or a Maruthi.

 

[TAUREAN CZAR]

Re: TATA Motors aspires for Top 3!

Tata Motors are rather over ambitious in their aspirations, if I should say. They would be lucky to retain 5th position in the next couple of years ( for passenger car segment). Instead of implying a causal attribution to external factors , they need to look at their core operations and change it from there- perhaps that's what they are planning to do.

True. It looks over ambitious, but it is not impossible. Reasons already known, TML has a reasonable fan following even in the rural and urban spots known to make rugged and practical cars. Three or four successful products will easily catapult it to the fourth spot. Coz other companies did not overtake TML, but in turn they kicked themselves out of the race. Looking at the ZEST story, it's not difficult, coz people still believe and vouch for TML products.

Tata's need to make what people want to buy but they have so far given us what they want to sell - e.g. Tata are the last ones to start selling Automatic cars where as Hyundai and Maruthi started selling them from at least 2003 or so .

TML's first car was launched in 1998 nearly 10 years after Hyundai started making cars. India was never an automatic market till the past couple of years and TML were only concentration on the home turf. Meanwhile Hyundai were already in the international market , assembling cars of a Japanese market and with this support and knowledge they could enter the fray easily. Relatively TML did not have the comfort except for assembling MERCEDES cars.

Perhaps they need a new brand name for passenger vehicles as historically the name Tata has primed people to think it as a taxi or commercial vehicles. In India no matter what, the women in the house has last say most of the times in choosing which brand of car you are going to buy - I do not think for bosses at home the name Tata cars is as appealing as a Hyundai , Honda, or a Maruthi.

I don't think change of name isn't required as they are all set to correct and resurrect themselves and they can do it.

 

[Karthik Chandrasekar]

Re: TATA Motors aspires for Top 3!

Though the aspirations are too high for the current times, one must admit that TATA has taken the right foot forward probably little too late, neverthless better late than never. For it to climb up the ladder, the co not only needs to launch new models but also change the attitude and customer centricity of the dealerships. Dealer experience matters a lot as it enhances word of mouth promotion. Customers now would walk into TATA showrooms with lots of expectation, they cannot be treated the same way as before since they come to buy/enquire about the cars that are going to be unlike the regular TATA cars.
I had an experience on 24th when my superior wanted to buy a car, tight on budget he was looking for a used car for about 1.5 lacs for a family of 2 adults and 3 kids. After checking out couple of Altos and 800s, i suggested we visit the TAFE Reach TATA showroom right next to our office in mount road to check the nano. The showroom was under renovation and display cars were parked in the backyard. We went in, nobody greeted except the customary nod by the security. We went in and sat near a round table meant for sales discussion. You won't believe no one attended for nearly 20 to 25 mins. People saw us but were involved in their work. After losing patience I stopped a sales exec and he was like 'no one came sir???' and then guided to the nano product manager who wasn't excited about his sales prospect. Gave a formal hand shake, handed over the brochure and price list. We had to insist on the test drive. I drove the nano for the 1st time and was bemused that TATA isn't able to move the best city commuter off the shelves. Thats quite an achivement in itself. The purchase is put on hold to check the discounts on other TATA dealers.
The point is "we want to buy a car, the are not selling one".
This needs to change if TATA aims at recovering lost ground. Hope they get back to glory. They have got wonderful package in zest and bolt. They just need to ensure pleasant dealership experienc and stocks will move especially with the acceptance of zest.
I want to see the company from the most trusted business house of India to bounce back strongly.

 

[vijay]

Re: TATA Motors aspires for Top 3!

T
The point is "we want to buy a car, the are not selling one".
This needs to change if TATA aims at recovering lost ground. Hope they get back to glory. They have got wonderful package in zest and bolt. They just need to ensure pleasant dealership experienc and stocks will move especially with the acceptance of zest.
I want to see the company from the most trusted business house of India to bounce back strongly.

Absolutely spot on.Agree with what you said which needs tobe changed from ground zero in their dealership attitude.
And this is not new in tata motors dampering image from dealerships.Even with good products in their portfolio they fail to capitalise with such events.