It looks like the Jaguar curse has bitten Tata

[1931Chevy]

Tata Motors predicts tough times ahead

The relatively recent flurry of activity at India’s Tata Motors, along with a slowing economy and high gas prices, is hurting the price of its stock, with the company chairman concerned about the future outlook. The automaker made itself famous by its introduction of the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, and the recent purchase of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford.

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[Chaz_23]

Who'll buy that Jaguar and Land Rover junk when Tata tries to get rid of it?

[osv_alero]

I think it is ironic that an Indian company has what was an iconic failed British company. Hopefully Tata figures out how to make it more successful than the British ever did just so Indians all over can rub it in the face of the British.

[johnny smallblock]

It's 2 luxury divisions with worldwide appeal, awareness and an established dealer base. I'm surprised Ford couldn't make money with them. I'm confident Tata will turn a tidy profit on their investment and they will gain credibility that would have taken them decades to get otherwise.

[calgaryhhr]

Tata should be able to get a lot of sales out of Land Rover in the Middle East. The Middle East market for large and capable and expensive SUV's is really strong right now.

Toyota wants to divert their North American built Sequoia to the Middle East because that is where the market is so Land Rover should be a bigger seller for Tata.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/20/toy...markets03.html

[Stéphane Dumas]

After the "Jeep Curse", here the "Jaguar curse", I wonder if there might be a cure to eleminate this curse? (if the Red Sox menaged to get rid of the curse of the Bambino...)

[1G6]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

I think it is ironic that an Indian company has what was an iconic failed British company. Hopefully Tata figures out how to make it more successful than the British ever did just so Indians all over can rub it in the face of the British.

Really? I think it's quite sad. Sad and pathetic.

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

I think it is ironic that an Indian company has what was an iconic failed British company. Hopefully Tata figures out how to make it more successful than the British ever did just so Indians all over can rub it in the face of the British.

There was a headline in some Asian publication (or website, I can't remember) that announced the Tata takover of JLR with "The Empire Strikes Back!". I thought it was clever.

Jaguar may be a "curse" but the brand managed to survive even British Leyland's nightmarish incompetency, and has had many more "bad" years than good ones. I don't think Sahib Tata will have an easy time with JLR, but I think his shrewd prowess give it the best chance of survival in today's global automotive arena.

For some odd reason I get the feeling that Tata will manage to successfully keep JLR's "Britishness" intact.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by t-rex

For some odd reason I get the feeling that Tata will manage to successfully keep JLR's "Britishness" intact.

Yup. I get the exact same feeling too. They will do right by JLR.

[mbukukanyau]

Britishness is why Jaguar fails to sell

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

It's 2 luxury divisions with worldwide appeal, awareness and an established dealer base. I'm surprised Ford couldn't make money with them. I'm confident Tata will turn a tidy profit on their investment and they will gain credibility that would have taken them decades to get otherwise.

Yeah, brilliant move huh? Selling Jaguar just as it started to do well and helping an Indian automaker get credibility in the process. I guess those are decisions you have to make when you're short for cash and rushing to fix your core brands though....