Tata cars to ferry players at commonwealth

There is finally an official transport solution provider for the commonwealth games – Tata Motors. The company had recently announced that it would be providing a complete transport solution to the Queen’s Baton Relay. But now the company has become the official vehicle supplier to this year’s 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. These vehicles would be used to transport VIPs, international delegates and athletes’ families during the games. According to Lalit Bhanot, secretary-general of the organising committee, “We have finalised the deal with Tata Motors and this would be partly funded as well as partly sponsored. While we will pump in nearly Rs 10 crore [US$2.2 million] for availing their services, the company would pump in a similar amount by way of sponsorship during the games.” Participation in this event would mean a lot of advertising for Tata Motors all throughout the event. Also, the company has struck a good deal because it would get all the used cars back after the games and according to speculation, Tata Motors is likely to sell these cars through their Tata Motors Assured unit as second hand cars depreciated by around 20 per cent.

1,800 vehicles including cars, jeeps, trucks, Ace LCV (both passenger and cargo variants) would be in use at the upcoming games. The Commonwealth Games organising committee has placed orders for the same. According to reports in the media, the Tata Motors would be supplying 1,600 cars (Indica and Indigo) besides 100 Sumo Grande and 50 Safari SUVs and 20 Wingers besides 30 trucks.

The games would also see the display of Tata’s hybrid buses driven by CNG-plus-electric technology. These new buses would give 20 per cent improved fuel efficiency. All this would amount to about Rs 140-150 crore according to a business daily. According to a quote by a Tata Motors official in a business daily, “We have an extra order to make 400 buses for the Delhi Transport Corporation to be used during the Games, of which some will be disabled-friendly.”