The Tata Indica uses a French (Peugeot) engine with a body designed in Italy. It appears to be selling in places like South Africa quite well, but from what I read, the reliability has been questionable. As the CityRover in the UK, it was a sales disaster, mainly because of the high asking price which put it up against the likes of the new Fiat Panda.
Tata have moved on a long way since the days of the Mercedes cast-offs they produced - and Tata is a huge empire into many different businesses.
The trouble is that Hindustan still make the Amabassador (a Morris Oxford cast off from Britain in the 1950s) and whilst this has been a best seller for many years the new imports and locally produced models from Ford, Opel, et al has meant that the Amby has become something of an embarrasment in a country fast catching up in automotive terms. Many sub-assemblies are made in India for European manufacturers, too.
But from experience on numerous trips, I would say that the Indians are not averse to pirate, either!
Tata have moved on a long way since the days of the Mercedes cast-offs they produced - and Tata is a huge empire into many different businesses.
The trouble is that Hindustan still make the Amabassador (a Morris Oxford cast off from Britain in the 1950s) and whilst this has been a best seller for many years the new imports and locally produced models from Ford, Opel, et al has meant that the Amby has become something of an embarrasment in a country fast catching up in automotive terms. Many sub-assemblies are made in India for European manufacturers, too.
But from experience on numerous trips, I would say that the Indians are not averse to pirate, either!
