Tata Motors Australia says it will soon expand its Xenon light commercial vehicle offering with the addition of an automatic transmission, with company representatives set to test prototypes in India in early December.
At present only a five-speed manual transmission is available for the Xenon LCV, which is available here in cab/chassis, single-cab pick-up and dual-cab pick-up body styles in either 4x2 or 4x4 formats. Currently the Xenon is the only platform to be offered by Tata in this country.
The CEO of Tata Motors Australia, Darren Bowler (pictured), says the imminent arrival of the auto transmission – which is expected here in around a year – is key to building the brand's presence in the local market.
"Tata Motors Australia has significant input into what we want [for the Australian market] and the next big one is the automatic transmission, which I'll have the opportunity to test the week after next in India," he says.
"There's a development program we've been working on with Tata Motors in India; it's been our goal from day one to have an automatic transmission in that car [the Xenon]. It's probably 12 months away from reaching Australia but we'll be the first market in the world [to have it]."
Mr Bowler says the auto will be just one of a number of looming upgrades for the Xenon.
"When we do go to launch [the auto] there will be a number of other features that we'll roll out at the same time," he says.
Local company representatives will sample the prototype auto Xenon in two different transmission calibrations, before providing feedback to inform further development.
Tata Motors Australia is operated by Melbourne-based firm Fusion Automotive, which in turn is a part of the Walkinshaw Performance Group. Tata launched in Australia in October 2013 with nine dealers; just over one year on Mr Bowler says around 300 Xenon utes have been sold, while its dealer network now numbers 38 outlets.
"We're in this for the long haul; we're not just in this for overnight," he says.
"It's about brand building and we know it's going to take time. We have the backing of the Walkinshaw Group and we have the backing of Tata Motors in India. All of us are on the same page to build the brand and grow over time."
Tata Motors Australia says it's targeting the sub-$30,000 market with its Xenon, which is now backed by the distributor's Tough Cover program. Announced in September, the cover comprises a four year, 100,000 kilometre warranty with roadside assistance and capped price servicing.
In a further push, the addition of stability control on all MY15 dual-cab models has seen those variants gain a four-star ANCAP safety rating.
The MY15 range is priced from $22,990 (4x2 single cab/chassis) to $28,990 (4x4 dual-cab pick-up), drive away.
Mr Bowler says Tata Motors Australia is looking at a number of new models for our market.
"We're currently working on products for the next three to four years that will be coming to Australia," he says.
"Tata Motors in India wants to become a global car company and it is looking at opportunities around the world. It's relying on us [Tata Motors Australia] to test and have input into the product."
Mr Bowler says Tata Motors Australia has plans to add both heavier commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles to its line-up in the not-too-distant future.
"We're looking at bringing the Tata Prima heavy-duty truck and Tata Ultra light/medium-duty truck here within the next 18 months, and passenger cars within the next three years," he says.
The passenger car offering could include a production version of the Tata Nexon concept car shown at the Delhi Motor Show in February 2014, says Mr Bowler. "Tata Motors is looking at that as a global car; there's still a lot of work going into that and we're looking at how we can have that car developed for the Australian market," he says.
"It's still some way off but it's an opportunity for us."
Tata Motors is relatively unknown here in Australia but it has produced over eight million commercial vehicles in its Indian manufacturing facilities since 1954. Its range now spans everything from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks and it's a part of the $100 billion Tata Group – which also owns automotive brands such as Jaguar Land Rover and Daewoo Trucks.