Zest draws more footfalls into Tata showrooms

Tata Motors’ recently launched and aggressively priced Zest compact sedan is drawing a good number of customers to company showrooms. It is learnt that over 10,000 prospective customers have enquired about the car in the past one week since its national launch on August 12. A large number have also taken test drives.

According to Girish Wagh, senior vice-president cum head (Product Design), Tata Motors, who launched the Zest in Bangalore for Karnataka market yesterday, said: “Buyers are showing huge interest in the Zest. The company has so far launched the new vehicle in 7-8 states.” More than 10,000 prospective customers have visited around 70 dealerships in these states.
The ex-showroom Bangalore pricing for the Zest ranges from Rs 468,965 to Rs 606,723 for four petrol-engined variants while the four-variant diesel range is available from Rs 573,071 to Rs 710,849.  

The company will complete its regional launches across the country in the next week. It is understood that the overall number of bookings for the Zest are on the higher side but the total number of bookings received thus far will only be revealed on September 1. Deliveries will commence from today, Wagh added.

According to Virat Khullar, head (Product Marketing), Tata Motors, the company has reformatted or upgraded its showrooms to enhance customer engagement levels at the dealerships, primarily for the Zest and upcoming products.

Of the total 400 dealerships across the country, around 150 dealerships have been refurbished with a modern look to drive sales of the Zest and the upcoming Bolt hatchback. Over 3,000 new sales staff have been recruited nationally to cater to Zest customers. Specially trained-sales managers at these revamped, tech-savvy dealerships will be equipped with hand-held tablets.

Tata Motors has 40 sales outlets in Karnataka, which is one of the key markets for the carmaker. The Indian market size for compact sedan cars stands at 30,000 units a month, of which Karnataka accounts for 1,800 cars with Bangalore alone accounting for 1,000 compact sedans every month.

Photograph (L-R): Girish Wagh, senior VP-cum-head (Product Design), Tata Motors; Nakul Gupta, Regional Manager (South I), Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, and Virat Khullar, Head (Product Marketing), Tata Motors, at the Zest launch in Bangalore.