Ratan Tata Was Humiliated by Ford, Reveals Colleague but took revenge

[samlove]

to me he is a real indian ,who care more about india than money , always respected him ,will do in future , hatsoff to this person.

Ratan Tata and his team faced "humiliation" when they went to sell the group's fledgling car business to Ford in 1999, but came back to "do a big favour" just nine years later by taking over the American giant's marquee brands Jaguar and Land Rover.

"They told us 'you do not know anything, why did you start the passenger car division at all'. They said they will do us a favour by buying our car division," a Tata Group veteran said while recalling a meeting of Ratan Tata and other top executives with Ford officials in Detroit in 1999.

The Tata Motors team decided to return to New York the same evening and Ratan Tata, then the group chairman, was sombre throughout the 90-minute flight, said Pravin Kadle, who was part of the team at that time and now heads Tata Capital.

"This was in 1999 and come 2008, the same Ford's JLR was bought by us. Ford chairman Bill Ford thanked Tata, saying 'you are doing us a big favour by buying JLR'," Kadle said, to a thunderous applause at an awards function on Thursday night.

He was speaking, mostly in Marathi, after receiving the YB Chavan National Award 2014 on behalf of Ratan Tata, who is now Chairman Emeritus of the over USD 100-billion group.

The poor response to its maiden hatchback Indica had driven Tata Motors to sell the car business, within a year of its debut in 1998, to Ford Motor.

"Some people advised chairman Ratan Tata to sell the passenger car division following the poor response it got post launch. Ford officials came down to our headquarters Bombay House and evinced interest in our car business.

"We were called to Detroit for discussions and I accompanied the chairman. For nearly three hours, we discussed the sell-off with Ford officials but were meted out humiliating treatment," said Kadle, who played a major role in the turnaround and growth of Tata Motors.

During his tenure at Tata Motors, Kadle was part of the senior leadership team that managed the cross-border acquisitions like Daewoo of South Korea, Incat Technologies of the UK and eventually of Jaguar-Land Rover of UK.

 

[Nilgiri]

The Brits told ole Jamshedji that he could never make quality steel.

He passed away just before he could see the first modern steel ingots produced in India.....a land that once made the finest steel in the world many ages ago.

I am sure Jamshedji and all subsequent elder Tatas smile down from heaven when they see Tata Steel having production in England itself nowadays.

This spirit is still there with Ratan Tata. It is too bad he does not have another Tata after him....but Tata continues to be the original inspiration for India manufacturing sector....and will always remain so.

Let everyone keep underestimating India, it plays to our advantage each time.

It's sad that Ford acted so snobby when they were on the receiving end of such behaviour from Enzo Ferrari and later silenced him handily (with the aid of Shelby). They should have known better.....probably a generational gap/amnesia I guess.

 

[IND151]

The Brits told ole Jamshedji that he could never make quality steel.

He passed away just before he could see the first modern steel ingots produced in India.....a land that once made the finest steel in the world many ages ago.

I am sure Jamshedji and all subsequent elder Tatas smile down from heaven when they see Tata Steel having production in England itself nowadays.

This spirit is still there with Ratan Tata. It is too bad he does not have another Tata after him....but Tata continues to be the original inspiration for India manufacturing sector....and will always remain so.

Let everyone keep underestimating India, it plays to our advantage each time.

It's sad that Ford acted so snobby when they were on the receiving end of such behaviour from Enzo Ferrari and later silenced him handily (with the aid of Shelby). They should have known better.....probably a generational gap/amnesia I guess.

TATAs have made India proud.....and will do in future too.

 

[Spectre]

All I have to say is every dog has it's day.

Proud to be an Indian!!

 

[HariPrasad]

A typical Parsi response. Jamshed Ji was humiliated by Britishers from one hotel on the ground that they are being Indian. He made a thousand time better Taj right in front.

 

[Last Samuri]

This is the Asian century people. Indians chinease japanease and soon Iranians will not take white superior bull shit now

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

When you talk about Ford---you are talking about Ford USA. Ford had no real interest in the Jaguar and Land Rover---. They bought it to see if it would work for them----it did not---they dumped it.

Jaguar and land Rover may have a name in Britain and india---but in the U S---they are worthless vehicles---with very poor reliability and resale value----.

For americans---all jaguars were under powered---over priced cars----unreliable cars----. They never took of---and same thing with Land Rover----.

As Ford was not into high end luxury car market----it waved it good by---. Tata got the opportunity---so he snagged it----.

Remember---car sales 101----no car is a piece of sh-it-----. There is an ar-se made for every seat. The seat for the jaguar and LR was made for Tata---he bought em----.

 

[Spectre]

Hi,

When you talk about Ford---you are talking about Ford USA. Ford had no real interest in the Jaguar and Land Rover---. They bought it to see if it would work for them----it did not---they dumped it.

Jaguar and land Rover may have a name in Britain and india---but in the U S---they are worthless vehicles---with very poor reliability and resale value----.

For americans---all jaguars were under powered---over priced cars----unreliable cars----. They never took of---and same thing with Land Rover----.

As Ford was not into high end luxury car market----it waved it good by---. Tata got the opportunity---so he snagged it----.

Remember---car sales 101----no car is a piece of sh-it-----. There is an ar-se made for every seat. The seat for the jaguar and LR was made for Tata---he bought em----.

Why bring logic in what is purely a feel good thread for Indians

 

[samlove]

Hi,

When you talk about Ford---you are talking about Ford USA. Ford had no real interest in the Jaguar and Land Rover---. They bought it to see if it would work for them----it did not---they dumped it.

Jaguar and land Rover may have a name in Britain and india---but in the U S---they are worthless vehicles---with very poor reliability and resale value----.

For americans---all jaguars were under powered---over priced cars----unreliable cars----. They never took of---and same thing with Land Rover----.

As Ford was not into high end luxury car market----it waved it good by---. Tata got the opportunity---so he snagged it----.

Remember---car sales 101----no car is a piece of sh-it-----. There is an ar-se made for every seat. The seat for the jaguar and LR was made for Tata---he bought em----.

just check out previous year sales , sales increased every month, so dont know if usa people really love piece of shit

 

[Dragon4]

Hi,

When you talk about Ford---you are talking about Ford USA. Ford had no real interest in the Jaguar and Land Rover---. They bought it to see if it would work for them----it did not---they dumped it.

Jaguar and land Rover may have a name in Britain and india---but in the U S---they are worthless vehicles---with very poor reliability and resale value----.

For americans---all jaguars were under powered---over priced cars----unreliable cars----. They never took of---and same thing with Land Rover----.

As Ford was not into high end luxury car market----it waved it good by---. Tata got the opportunity---so he snagged it----.

Remember---car sales 101----no car is a piece of sh-it-----. There is an ar-se made for every seat. The seat for the jaguar and LR was made for Tata---he bought em----.

LOL what do u drive? a ferrari?

 

[Water Car Engineer]

For americans---all jaguars were under powered---over priced cars----unreliable cars----. They never took of---and same thing with Land Rover----.
.

That was last generation, they've made a great come back with recent models.

And the F Type has also created a good buzz for Jag.

This topic was already discussed, already a thread.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

He didn't take 'revenge'. He did what a business leader should do- bring in good management and create a healthy company (JGL). Completely unrelated to Ford.

 

[MastanKhan]

He didn't take 'revenge'. He did what a business leader should do- bring in good management and create a healthy company (JGL). Completely unrelated to Ford.

Hi,

The thing is---that Tata got something that would increase his image---and as it is Indian owned----there would be more Indian buyers for these vehicles---so a perfect match.

Ford got rid of something that it did not need. They already got enough tax write offs.

Americans just don't care for british cars----. Even though the Jag and LR sales has increased---but that is by default of better economy---it has not taken off like Audi or BMW or Mercedez.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Hi,

The thing is---that Tata got something that would increase his image---and as it is Indian owned----there would be more Indian buyers for these vehicles---so a perfect match.

Ford got rid of something that it did not need. They already got enough tax write offs.

Americans just don't care for british cars----. Even though the Jag and LR sales has increased---but that is by default of better economy---it has not taken off like Audi or BMW or Mercedez.

tata entered the high end luxury segment because it wanted products on all segments. Its ambition is to be counted among the Toyotas and Volkswagens some day so has to make such serious moves to build up a profile. Jag and JLR sales didn't increase because of 'better economy', Several management changes including supporting the company with cash when the UK was uwilling to support them and a very free environment focused on new product development and desgn did the trick. They showed a lot of courage in bringing into market certain internal concepts like the Range Rover Evoque.

@MastanKhan the better products were seen obviously to all

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

The numbers I am talking are for U S only----. UK also wanted Ford to end its control over Jag and LR later----. Before when they were sinking---UK desperately wanted ford to buy them to save them.

The thing is that Ford did a favor to JAG and LR for buying them and then floating them for many a years---. Otherwise these two companies would have been dead long before the recession hit the world.