Tata Motors mulling exporting new SUV Aria

Home-grown automaker Tata Motors today said that it would consider exporting its new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Aria.

The company, which witnessed 77 per cent growth in exports in September 2010 as against the same month last year, may look for exporting the new SUV after six months.

"Normally for any manufacturer it would take about six months after introducing the car in the domestic market to commence exports... We do have plans...(for exporting the Aria range of SUVs in the overseas market)," Tata Motors Passenger Car Business Unit Utility Vehicles Product Group Head S G Saksena told reporters here.

"Most of the products introduced in domestic (markets) are usually taken to overseas market after six months. There are host of other features (before exporting) which needs to be taken care of, which will take time... We do have plans to export it to European and SAARC countries after six months...," he said.

Saksena and senior company officials were here to introduce the SUV Aria in Tamil Nadu and Kerala market, which accounts for 18 per cent of total sales.

According to him, sales of Tata Motors contribute 13 per cent of the total size of the utility vehicle segment per month. "Around 3,500 units contribute to the 25,000 units of utility vehicles segment per month...," he said.

The new Aria would be immediately available in 65 dealership networks across 22 cities. The basic variant of Aria in Tamil Nadu market costs Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai) while the top segment is priced at Rs 15.45 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai).