Tata Motors may soon co-develop cars with Jaguar Land Rover

Tata Motors, one of India's leading automakers, is looking to co-develop cars with the company's British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) as it eyes a comeback to the top 3 in the passenger vehicle market.

According to a report by The Economic Times, the Tata Group company is working out strategies to turn around ailing operations.

Tim Leverton, president and head, advanced and product engineering at Tata Motors, was quoted by the report as saying: "On a longer-term basis, co-development of cars (with Jaguar and Land Rover) can be looked at... We have studied this, and are looking at it. But, this is something which is in the future."

Leverton added that it is imperative to understand the positioning of the brands.

"We have to remember that Tata Motors is focused on the mainstream mass market and not so much on the premium end, like the other two brands," he said.

The companies can also look at joint engine development in the future, though current level of engagement is in the technology sphere on areas like components, sensors, controls and software, the report said.

Tata Motors has also lined up an aggressive product launch programme that includes driving in two new products every year till 2020. After introducing Zest sedan earlier this year, the company is now gearing up to launch Bolt hatchback.

The company, which recently hired Maruti Suzuki veteran Mayank Pareek as the president of its passenger vehicles business unit, is also looking at reviving struggling volumes of Nano budget car.