Tata trucks for Australia "highly likely"

The importer and distributor for Tata's Xenon ute, Fusion Automotive, has announced it hopes to bring Tata trucks to Australia within three years

Trucks from Indian automotive giant Tata Motors could be on sale in Australia within the next few years, according to the local importer and distributor for the manufacturer's light commercial vehicle, the Tata Xenon ute.

At a recent press conference the Managing Director for Fusion Automotive, Darren Bowler, said the business – which is part of the Walkinshaw Group – is considering its options for Tata trucks closely.

Bowler said an Australian launch for Tata trucks was very much "on the radar" for Fusion Automotive and Tata Motors, and that it was "highly likely" that Tata truck models will be available here in the not-too-distant future – "Within the next three years, we hope," he said.

Fusion Automotive is looking specifically at a light-duty model, the Ultra, and the medium to heavy-duty Prima.

The latest versions of both those models, which adhere to Euro 5 emissions compliance (the equivalent to ADR 80/03 here), are currently in development. They are due to be launched by Tata Motors next year.

If – or when – they do arrive in Australia, the Tata Ultra and Tata Prima will be thrust into one of the most competitive truck markets in the world, where they will go head to head with products from a host of established Japanese, European and American makers.

The light-duty Ultra would also be competing with Chinese truck maker Foton, which is brought here by Ateco Automotive. The Sydney-based and privately owned importer/distributor only recently consolidated its Foton offering, slotting in the Foton Tunland ute alongside its portfolio of trucks, and is now ramping up its efforts to broaden the brand's local footprint.

The Tata Ultra would be up against Isuzu's N Series, Hino's 300 Series, Fuso's Canter and Foton's ISF, while the Prima would be up against an even wider variety of well-established contenders.

Bowler said that any Tata trucks that make it to our shores will be specified to meet the needs of our demanding market.

"The Prima runs a Cummins ISX engine, an Eaton transmission," he said.

"These are key things that heavy industry in Australia wants. They demand that in a truck so these are the must-haves."

Tata's international website currently lists four models of Prima in both prime mover and tipper formats, with a 6.7-litre Cummins ISB engine available in two power outputs – 227hp/870Nm and 267hp/970Nm – and a choice of ZF or proprietary transmissions. The site lists GCMs for the Prima of up to 49 tonnes.

Bowler said the trucks would be sold in Australia through their own dedicated network – the trucks wouldn't be sold through the existing Tata Xenon network, and conversely the Xenon wouldn't be sold through any Tata truck dealers.

"You couldn't have a light commercial dealer selling a heavy truck," said Bowler.

"It's two different segments within the [market]."

Tata Motors is the fourth-largest truck manufacturer globally and is part of the massive Tata Group, which employs 545,000 people globally and generated more than $103 billion in revenue in 2013.

Tata trucks for Australia "highly likely"

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