Indian car maker Tata is considering launching a cheap “people#;s car that would be assembled in small plants across the continent and sold for about $US3,000, the Financial Times said.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


The vehicle would bridge the mobility gap between cars and scooters and combine a European citycar body style with a motorcycle-based engine and gearbox, the newspaper said.


Citing Tata chairman Rata Tata, the FT said that the company was still looking for partners for the project.


Tata displayed a seven-seat Indiva MPV concept car based on the Indica hatchback platform alongside its new Indica sedan at the Geneva motor show this week. It will next year introduce an Indica estate car aimed at European buyers.


The FT added that the Indian company was continuing informal talks with MG Rover over shipping Indica assembly kits to the UK company#;s Longbridge factory for assembly and sale as an entry-level Rover.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Rover has lacked a supermini contender since its 100-series model, evolved from the 1981 Austin Metro, went out of production in the mid-1990s due, in part, to buyer concerns over its poor crash safety results in European tests.


The FT said Rover would fit its own K-series engine (eight-valve 1.1 and 1.4-litre versions are available off the shelf) to the Indica and price it well below its current cheapest model, the 25. Indian market Indicas have Tata’s own 1.4-litre petrol or diesel engines.


Tata recently introduced a revised version of its Indica hatchback with the new sedan and took the unusual step of offering to retro-fit earlier models with the improved version#;s updates in response to customers#; complaints.