Indian industrial giant Tata is developing a new budget family hauler set to take on ute-based seven-seat SUVs such as the Mitsubishi Challenger and Holden Colorado 7.
Having recently launched its Xenon ute in Australia, the emerging car maker is keen to further its expansion into markets outside of India, with a pair of new SUVs at either end of the spectrum.
On a recent trip to Australia, Tata's Executive Director of Commercial Vehicles, Ravi Pisharody, confirmed to motoring.com.au the manufacturer is developing an affordable ute-based seven-seat SUV as well as a car-derived small SUV which is expected to arrive within the next few years.
"The smaller SUVs now are very popular. So yes, that is something we've previously missed, and we'll be looking at developing a smaller-sized SUV," said Pisharody.
Tata is committed to launching both new models globally and is eager to build its presence in Australia, a country it sees as vital to its global expansion plan.
According to Pisharody, Tata aims to consolidate the number of platforms it uses, much as the Volkswagen Group uses one core platform for dozens of different cars.
"As and when we look at a new pickup platform -- we've started talking about a new platform to come, say five years from now -- we will be looking at exactly that point, at building a family of vehicles on the platform, including an SUV," he said.
Tata is also considering "a new pick up in two or three versions. We have to see what is cost-effectively possible".
The next-generation Xenon ute and its seven seat spin off are expected to hit showrooms around 2018 and will leverage technologies in development for the next Defender, built by Tata-owned Land Rover.
The Indian car maker is committed to launching both upcoming SUVs globally and the company is eager to build its presence in Australia, which Pisharody views as "one of the top five pick-up markets in the world".
"I think we will be looking at Australia with a lot of interest and importance. The reason we've not looked at Australia in the past is that traditional products have played into a more emerging market type of market (such as) Africa, ASEAN, Latin America.
"But now we have products that can cross over from the emerging market to the lower end of first world countries.
"Even the vehicles we build now are well suited to your market. We just have to keep pace with the emission and ANCAP restrictions and that's something we will work to do."
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