CAR giant Tata Motors says it has received an “encouraging response” from the Indian market after it started marketing Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles there.
Tata, which bought Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) last year, expects India will become a key market for the upmarket vehicles.
Sales of both brands have slumped in the UK and the US since recession hit but JLR, which employs 2,000 people at Halewood, is promoting the vehicles in new markets around the world.
Tata Motors yesterday reported that its pre-tax profits rose by 153.3% to £119m in the three months ended September 30 compared to the same quarter last year.
The company said its improved margins were down to cost-cutting measures and the fact that raw material prices remained stable.
Revenues rose 12.7% to £1bn.
Tata has also started delivering the Tata Nano, the £1,300 vehicle known as the world’s cheapest car. More than 7,500 of the cars have been built.
Yesterday’s figures do not include the UK-based Jaguar Land Rover business.
