This year is the year for Tata Motors to focus on SUVs after more focus on cars. On Monday, the Tata Group introduced its flagship vehicle, the new Safari. Starting at Rs 14.96 lakh, the seven-seater SUV, priced at Rs 21.45 lakh (automatic transmission), will compete with the Innova and the upcoming new Mahindra XUV500.
Upon its launch, N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Motors and Tata Sons, said that both JLR and Tata Motors have collaborated to bring the best in the category to Indian consumers. He said that the new forever range introduced in January 2020 has received very wide response. The new safari will help accelerate the pace of growth for the company’s passenger vehicles business.
Available in seven lighter categories, the larger than the Harrier SUV has started selling across the country from today. This is the first of two SUV models that the Mumbai-based company plans to introduce this calendar year, as it wants to make a strong comeback in the SUV segment. It also hopes to increase the SUV’s share in its total sales. It currently accounts for 40 percent.
Shailesh Chandra, president of the company’s passenger vehicle business unit, said that this calendar year at Tata Motors would be the year of the SUV. He said that Tata Motors started booking for this new model on 4 February and it has received very good response. However, he did not disclose the booking number. Chandra said that in its new avatar, the Safari bearing the Gravitas codename, which has ruled Indian roads for over two decades, is expected to attract new SUV buyers looking for a vehicle that suits their multifaceted lifestyle.
