Tata Motors and PT Pindad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation to explore market potential of Tata Armoured Vehicles in Indonesia and other regions of ASEAN.

The MoU also includes a study to check the feasibility of locally assembling Tata Armoured Vehicles at PT Pindad’s facility, in Bandung in West Java province of Indonesia.

PT Pindad is an Indonesian state-owned enterprise specialising in military and commercial products.

Commenting on the occasion, Biswadev Sengupta, president director of Tata Motors Indonesia, a subsidiary of Tata Motors – Agent licensee (APM) of Tata Motors brand in Indonesia, said, “This is a very important milestone for Tata Motors operations in Indonesia and is a matter of pride to be able to co-operate with PT Pindad, which is held in high esteem by the Indonesian community. I am sure that through this arrangement, we can create a lot of value in Indonesia, a market which we are committed to in the long term.”

“This foray into the defense business in Indonesia, is in continuation with the strides made in the logistics business in the country, where more than 3000 Tata vehicles are already on the road, covering pickups, light trucks, buses and heavy trucks,” added Biswadev.

PT Pindad provides the main weapon systems (Alat Utama Sistem Senjata or Alutsista) required to support independence in defence and security of the Republic of Indonesia. Furthermore, PT Pindad (Persero) also produces several industrial products for other aspects such as transportation and commercial explosives. Its activities cover design, development, engineering and fabrication as well as maintenance.

Tata Motors has been associated with the country’s off-road defence and security forces, since 1958 and has supplied over 110,000 vehicles to the Indian military and paramilitary forces, so far. The company exports its range of defence vehicles to the SAARC, ASEAN and African regions.