Tata Motors will invest around Rs 800-1000 crore over the next two-three years on a plant in Dharwar, Karnataka.
This additional plant in Dharwar with a capacity of around 90,000 units annually will exclusively manufacture the Tata Ace Zip and Magic Iris. The plant is expected to reach full capacity by end of the next fiscal, said Mr Ravi Pisharody, President, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors.
Launched in May 2011, the Ace Zip and Magic Iris are vehicles in the 0.5-tonne category. January to March is the peak production period, he said.
“We have a 80-85 per cent market share in this category. We are carving a special facility for the Zip and Iris due to the rise in demand for these vehicles,” he said. The demand for this category came mainly from the small businessmen “who carry small loads to work and back or have a small store-house in their homes,” he added. This category is expected to see growth in the 15-20 per cent range.
The Tata Ace Zip saw total sales of 3,000 last month, while the Magic Iris saw sales of around 1,000 units.