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Tatas to unveil vehicle at Dubai motor show

The Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited is planning to unveil its new four-wheel drive vehicle Telcosport, in the West Asian market shortly.

The model, which falls in the fast growing sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment, will be one of the TELCO products on display at the Fourth Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai in November. The Gulf region is acknowledged as the world's largest market for four-wheel drive passenger vehicles and the show has attracted a host of manufacturers who will display their latest models.

The UAE alone is estimated to account for the sales of about 1200 four-wheel drive vehicles a month and the figure is said to be much higher in Saudi Arabia.

TELCO sources said the model would compete in the three-door segment and will be its first entrant in the market for passenger vehicles in this region.

It will be followed by a five-door sports utility vehicle in the latter part of 1998, they said.

The company also plans to offer an option of a petrol engine on these models.

The smaller of the two cars is scheduled for launch in the Indian market in the second half of 1998 and in the international markets in 1999. The company's participation in the Dubai motor show is planned as a preview to the launch.

Other product variants at the show will be the Telco Single Cab 4x4 and the Telcoline Double Cab 4x4.

"TELCO's new range of products will help the company address important, and hitherto untapped, segments in the Gulf countries", the sources said.

"A major exercise is currently being undertaken to review its strategy and fine tune it to suit this highly competitive segment," the company told the organisers of the Dubai motor show.

TELCO has had a major presence in this region for the last two decades, particularly in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

In both these countries, TELCO has, in particular, been associated with the school transportation system, being a major supplier to the Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC) and the Emirates General Transport and Services Corporation (Emirtas).

The MEIMS is one of the most popular motor shows in West Asia. This year's edition will also incorporate exhibitions of motor parts and accessories and commercial vehicles and equipment alongside the main show.

A spokesman for the Dubai World Trade Centre, organisers of the show, said all the major players from the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia would be displaying their products at the exhibition.

"The exhibitors' response has been exceptionally good. MEIMS will provide a fair opportunity to the buyers to compare and select the best of what the automotive industry has to offer," he added.

UNI