Tata Motors ramps up sales network in South Indian region to 'substantially' increase its market share

Indian auto giant Tata Motors is ramping up sales network in the South Indian region to "substantially" increase its market share in the commercial vehicle segment in South India, a stronghold of its rival Ashok Leyland.

The company has crossed the milestone of having 600 touch-points in the region, which currently contributes to around 27 per cent of the total commercial vehicle sales inthe country.

Over the last six months, the company has opened around 20touch-points which includes eight full fledged dealershipsacross Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana among others. "We are looking to expand our sales network all across thecountry in order to be near our customers.

We are focusing on the South region in equal measure and have just crossed theimportant landmark of 600 outlets," Tata Motors Vice-President Sales and Marketing Commercial Vehicles R T Wasan told PTI.

The company, which currently has a market share of around36 per cent in the South India, expects to "substantiallyincrease it further across segments", he added but did notshare any specific market share target for the region.

As part of its sales network expansion in the region thecompany has recently opened 10 sales, service and spare parts(3S) besides 10 sales outlets (1S) in Chennai, Salem,Warangal, Trichy, Madurai, Cochin, Tumkur among others.

"These new outlets have already started to contributearound 6 per cent of our overall volumes in the region," Wasansaid. In terms of new product launch in the South market, hesaid Tata Motors is gearing up to launch its new-generationrange of SIGNA medium & heavy commercial vehicles during thenext calendar year.

The company is also expected to further its presence inthe intermediate and light commercial vehicle space with theULTRA brand along with a series of introductions planned inthe pick-up and small passenger and cargo vehicle space.

The company sells a range of commercial vehicles from0.5 tonne vehicles like Ace to 49 tonne tractors in the cargospace and from Iris to buses and coaches. It has the largest network of sales network in thecountry with over 1,800 touch-points.