Tata Motors sees profit rebound on Jaguar Land Rover boost, lower costs

INDIA’S Tata Motors said on Wednesday (Nov 9) it expects profit and cash flow to bounce back in the second half thanks to healthy demand for its Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) cars and a drop in domestic steel costs.

Automakers are reaping the benefits of raising prices, a surge in demand for passenger vehicles after the pandemic and easing costs of key raw material steel.

“We are seeing continued increase in demand side at JLR,” chief financial officer PB Balaji said in a post-earnings call. The order book is strong owing to the new Range Rover, and Range Rover Sport and Defender vehicles, he added.

Wholesale trading volume of passenger vehicles surged 69 per cent year-on-year to 142,755 vehicles, while Jaguar Land Rover wholesale volumes – excluding its joint venture in China – jumped 17.6 per cent to 75,307 units, although below expectations because of chip shortages.

The China market is not a stress right now for JLR and the company is focusing on getting supplies in place, Balaji said.

Tata Motors, India’s third-largest carmaker, has doubled its market share in passenger vehicles to about 14 per cent over the past two years, according to data from Federation Of Automobile Dealers Associations.

The company reported a consolidated net loss of 9.45 billion Indian rupees (S$162.7 million) for the second quarter ended Sep 30, compared with a loss of 44.42 billion rupees a year ago, it said in an exchange filing.

Total revenue from operations rose nearly 30 per cent to 796.11 billion rupees. REUTERS