To meet the ongoing demand for the Ace and the related vehicles, Tata Motors has slated the schedule for increased output of vehicles. The proposals include erecting new facilities and feasibility studies in this regard has already begun, say the company sources. However, there is no official communication from the company sources except the possible setting up of facility or addition of facilities in the existing plants. Tata’s Pantnagar plant has the capacity of 250000 for Ace group of vehicles alone and the ongoing trend makes the company nearing that mark. There are four variants in the Ace sector for the Indian market which includes a passenger vehicle Magic and a minitruck. The goods carrier is being exported to surrounding nations like India and Nepal.
Tata is getting a tough competition from the other truck maker Mahindra&Mahindra in dealing with sub-one tone goods carrier. M&M’s range in sub 1-tonne segment includes Maxximo and Gio. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers disclosed an analysis that the combined offer of Tata and M&M in the domestic market for the sub 3.5 tonne goods carrier is 1,97, 366 units of which Tata has its share of 1,21,403 units while M&M sharing the remaining 75963 units. Tata accepts the fact that it has lost its due share in ACE LCVs due to certain factors, the major being new launches from the competitors.
Ace came to the market five years ago in the form of a mini-truck having 1-tonne payload. Within a year of its launch Ace received thumping response and its sale was 30000 units and it was 70000 in the subsequent year. The global recession did not spare Tata too and the sale of Ace slipped down to 81000 units in 2008-09 from the good show of 89000 units in 2007-08.
The company’s sale figure for 2009-10 has been 1.6 lakh units of Ace LCVs of which 1.1 lakh units belong to the goods sector.