The passing of Indian industrialist Ratan Tata on October 9 saw the departure of a significant figure in the global motor industry
Perhaps not as high-profile as the Enzo Ferraris or Elon Musks of the automotive sphere, Ratan Tata nonetheless exerted a major influence around the world, and perhaps most famously here in the UK.
An architecture graduate, Ratan Tata joined the Tata Group in the 1970s, becoming chairman in 1990, a position he held until retiring in 2012. Here in the UK, he is better known as the man behind the decision which saw Tata Group acquire Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company back in 2008 in a $2.3bn deal which reunited the two brands under common ownership for the first time since the British Leyland era.
Ironically, just nine years previously when it had attempted to sell its fledging car-making business to the American giant, Tata had been humiliated by Ford management’s criticism of its foray into the automotive business and it’s thought that this spurred Tata on to make a success of the venture.
Despite the global reach of the Tata empire, he was known to take a personal interest in its British subsidiary, reports from insiders revealing that he frequently spent time at the Gaydon test track during his visits– perhaps not so unexpected from a chairman who had a personal pilot’s licence and was known to pilot the company jet. The Jaguar brand may face an uncertain future today, but all of its critically acclaimed recent cars were developed during Tata ownership.
As a complete contrast to the British premium brands, Tata was also responsible for encouraging the development of the Tata Nano, which at launch in 2009 was the world’s cheapest car. Retailing at 100,000 rupees (around £1000 at the time), it was reckoned that Tata’s visionary creation would prove a major headache to the world’s established brands and a prototype Nano was even developed which ran on nothing but compressed air.
Meanwhile, the more conventional Tata Indica ran for 20 years and even had a part in the dying days of Longbridge, when it was rebadged as the City Rover.
“The entire JLR family is profoundly saddened by the death of Mr. Ratan Tata,” commented JLR’s CEO Adrian Mardell. “His personal achievements and legacy are unequalled in society, and the mark he leaves on our business and brands is greater than that of any other individual.
“It was thanks to his singular vision that Tata acquired JLR in 2008, and we owe everything we have become since then to his unwavering support and dedication.
“Mr. Tata led us on an extraordinary journey. He inspired incredible new chapters in our history. Under his generous and trusting guidance, we have felt deeply proud to be part of the Tata story.
On behalf of everyone at JLR, I would like to offer our sincerest thanks for his remarkable leadership.”
