Tata Nano sales slump, to be produced only on demand at Sanand facility

He, however, did not divulge the inventory of Tata Nanos currently lying with the company’s dealership network.

In the month of June 2018, Tata Motors sold just three Nanos, compared to 167 units during the same period in 2017. During the same month, it produced only one Nano car at Sanand.

The company is now contemplating on expanding the manufacturing facility to cater to the demand for its other models — Tiago and Tigor. “With Tiago and Tigor, the company more is aggressive in production and keeping stocks,” he added.

Barman pointed out that the sales of passenger vehicles belonging to the Tata brand have been clocking higher growth compared to the average growth of this segment in Gujarat in the last two years. “Compared to the one percent growth made by the industry in the year 2016-17, we grew at 34 percent. The next year (2017-18), when the industry grew at 11 percent, we grew at 45 percent. In the first quarter of 2018-19, the industry grew at
18 percent and we grew at 49 percent. This year we looking to grow in excess of 50 percent in Gujarat,” he remarked.

When asked if the Sanand facility, which is running almost at 100 percent capacity, will see an expansion to meet the sales growth of Tata passenger vehicles in the state, the official said, “We definitely have a plan for Sanand… We are looking at all the possibilities including adding a third shift… We definitely have a plan to produce more cars at Sanand than what we are producing today.”

Currently, about 4500 workers work in two shifts at the facility.

Talking about the Sanand facility, Burman said, “This plant has become one of the most productive and efficient plant… It has become a benchmark facility.”