Japan disaster may affect JLR's supply chain: Tata Motors

Tata Motors today said its UK-based subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) may face supply constraints in the future on account of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

"At present, JLR has not suffered any production shutdowns or delays due to supply chain disruptions. However, the situation in Japan continues to evolve. There is a risk JLR may face supply chain disruptions in the future," Tata Motors informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) about a regulatory filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington.

Tata Motors is monitoring the situation and assessing the impact of the natural disaster in Japan, it added.

As per the filing, JLR's consumption of raw materials have surged over 53% for the nine months ended December 31, 2010, to 4 billion pounds (over Rs 29,300 crore) from 2.62 billion pounds (over Rs 19,100 crore) in the year-ago period, the homegrown auto major said.

Yesterday, Tata Motors had said its JLR would raise 1 billion pounds (over Rs 7,300 crore) to refinance existing debt and other purposes.

The British firm's total debt as on December 31, 2010, stands at 2.65 billion pounds (over Rs 19,300 crore).

JLR will launch a new sports utility vehicle Range Rover Evoque in this year. Besides, it has announced to develop a diesel hybrid SUV.

Last week, the company had tied up with Williams F1 to build a very limited number of hybrid supercar, C-X75, prices of which will start from about 7,00,000 pounds (over Rs 5 crore).