Tata Sprint to debut in India this year

Tata Motors’ Sprint pickup truck is likely to be launched in India during the third quarter of this year, according to top industry sources. In the process, it will precede Thailand which will see the vehicle in the first quarter of 2008. Managing director, Tata Motors, Ravi Kant confirmed this to Autocar Professional saying, “Surely, it will be available in India first because the Thailand facility will be commissioned later this year.”

The Sprint could be shown at the 2008 Bangkok International Motor Show. Tata Motors Thailand could well start selling the vehicle at the event, which is famous for a large number of car bookings what with all the promotions Thailand’s carmakers throw in during the show.

The Sprint project in Thailand will cost Rs 120 crore. Already, Tata has invested Rs 11.61 crores in its subsidiary Tata Motors Thailand during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 according to the company’s financial statement. There is little known on the vehicle’s powertrain options although Kant said the Sprint could share the same platform as the Tata 207, which sports a 3.0 litre engine.

Company sources had earlier said that the Sprint would sport its 3.0 litre Dicor engine but now say that a final decision is yet to be made. Incidentally, the TL Sprint shown at the Bolgna Motor Show is equipped with the newly developed 2.2 Dicor engine which could also find its way to India.

“We are trying to meet the price point of Tata Motors for this vehicle in Thailand, but it is a difficult proposition,” said the head of a vendor company, who is looking to set up base in the kingdom for this project.

AMMAR MASTER