TATA Motors Collaborates With Fusion Automotive To Launch Xenon Pickup Truck In Australia

Indian automobile giant TATA Motors has signed an agreement with a distributor Fusion Automotive, under which it’ll be launching a range of light commercial vehicles in Australia by Q4-2013. Fusion Automotive is Tata’s sole marketing and distribution partner in Australia. As of now, Tata Xenon or Xenon XT is expected to be the single planned offering but it could be followed by other models. The Xenon shall be made available in both 4×2 and 4×4 versions and in both single/double cab variants. The pickup truck shall be powered by a 2.2 liter DICOR diesel engine with 140 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. Transmission is 5-speed manual.

Mr. Darren Bowler, Managing Director, Fusion Automotive Pty Ltd., Australia, said-

We are extremely pleased and proud to be the newly appointed distributor for Tata Motors in Australia. The vehicle range, starting with light commercials, will be competitively priced and will offer a greater level of value than what is available in the current market. There is no tougher place on earth to test vehicles than on some of the toughest and most demanding roads across India, and we believe that gives us a competitive advantage with the range of Tata Motors products. The light commercial segment is now the third largest segment of the Australian new-car market, with 13 major brands in the 4×2 and 4×4 categories. We believe there is demand in Australia for a utility range of vehicles with the toughness and value for money equation that Tata Motors products deliver.

This is a re-entry for Tata in Australian market, for earlier in 1996 it had entered the market with budget-friendly Telcoline. The Xenon shall be paving way for Tata Motors in a market heavily dominated by Toyota, Ssangyong, Mahindra and Great Wall. While Toyota rules the roost, others still have managed to claim their stakes, no matter how small. Tata’s pickup truck shall be competing against Toyota Hilux, Mahindra Scorpio Getaway and Ssangyong Actyon Sports.