Mr Ratan Tata chairman of TATA Sons said the group's British firm Jaguar Land Rover is looking at increasing its assembly operations in India, besides planning to start assembling in China as well.

Mr Tata told shareholders of TATA Motors in its Annual Report for 2010-11 that "Assembly operations in India have commenced for the Land Rover Freelander. Assembly of other Land Rover products are also under consideration.”

In May this year, JLR opened its first assembly plant in Pune to assemble sports utility vehicle Land Rover Freelander 2 from completely knocked down kits shipped from the Halewood manufacturing unit in Liverpool, UK.

Commenting on the Chinese operations of JLR, Mr Tata said that "The company is also considering various options for assembly and localization of selected products in China, which has become an important market for the company."

He said both TATA Motors and JLR are coming up with a joint engine development program with an aim to set up manufacturing facilities both in the UK and India.

He added that "To optimize the synergetic strengths between JLR and TATA Motors in India, an examination is also underway on a joint engine development program which would have manufacturing facilities both in the UK and India.” He further said that "Both TATA Motors and JLR have extensive product development plans for cars, off-road vehicles and commercial vehicles powered by regular and alternative fuels."

He added that both the firms are also looking at developing electric and hybrid vehicles to meet future fuel efficiency and low emission requirements.

(Sourced from Hindu)