The Tata Group, headquartered in Mumbai, has products and services in over 150 countries, and operations in 100 countries with 29 publicly-listed companies. This Visual Story is a time travel with Tata Group to see the 154-year journey of how a trading company became India's largest conglomerate
It all started in 1868 when Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata started a trading company with a capital of Rs 21,000, the early beginnings of what would one day become the Tata Group. Eight years later in 1874, he established a textile mill 'The Empress Mills' in Nagpur instead of Bombay
In 1903, the Taj Mahal Hotel opened for business on December 16. In 1904, when Jamsetji passed away in Germany, his older son, Sir Dorabji Tata took over. He established Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel) in remote Sakchi in 1907. Two years later, the Indian Institute of Science got established
In 1910, Western India's first hydro plant was established, and Tata Power was born. Seven years later, in 1917, Tata Group made its consumer space debut with Tata Oil Mills Co (TOMCO), known for soap brands, Hamam and Moti. It was later sold to HUL in 1984
In 1919, Sir Ratan Tata passed away, and Sir Ratanji Tata Trust & Allied Trusts, the first of the many Tata Trusts, was set up in accordance with his will. In 1929, JRD Tata received the first pilot licence in India, and in 1932, he piloted the first flight of the subcontinent from Karachi to Mumbai. Tata Airlines (now Air India) was born
In 1938, Nowroji passed away in France, propelling JRD Tata to the most powerful position in the group. At 34, he was the youngest Chairman in the group's history. A year later, Tata Chemicals got incorporated in Mithapur. Two years before India's independence, Tata Group's business expanded further as it established Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (now Tata Motors)
In 1952, Tata Group launched India's first cosmetics brand, Lakme, which was later sold to Hindustan Unilever, along with TOMCO, in 1984. Two years later, Voltas was incorporated. In 1962, the group entered beverage space with the launch of Tata Finlay (later Tata Tea; Tata Global Beverages, now Tata Consumer Products)
In 1962, Tata Exports (now, Tata International) was set up. Six years later in 1968, India's first software services company, Tata Consultancy Services, was established. In the early 1980s, the Taj Group accelerated international expansion. In 1983, country's first iodised branded salt Tata Salt was launched
In 1984, Titan entered the watch market. In 1991, TELCO (now Tata Motors) entered the passenger vehicle space with Tata Sierra, followed by Tata Estate in 1992. Six years later, Fastrack was launched. In 1994, Titan launched Tanishq and moved into jewellery business
In 1998, Tata Indica, India's first indigenously designed and manufactured car, and Tata Safari, India's first SUV, were launched. In 2001, the group strengthened its presence in the insurance sector with Tata AIG and Tata AIA. A year later, Tata Group acquired a controlling stake in VSNL, establishing Tata Communications. In 2004, TCS went public in the largest IPO in India at the time, raising nearly $1.2 billion
In 2004, Tata Motors acquired the heavy vehicles unit of South Korea's Daewoo Motors, and in the same year, it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2006, the conglomerate launched launching DTH provider, Tata Sky, (now Tata Play). In 2008, Tata Motors unveiled Tata Nano. It also acquired the British car maker, Jaguar Land Rover
In 2012, Tata's JV with international coffee giant, Starbucks, came to India. Three years later, the group re-entered the aviation industry with Vistara. In 2017, N. Chandrasekaran was appointed Chairman of Tata Sons. In 2020, Tata Motors announced the launch of India's own Electric SUV, Nexon EV
Last year, Tata Group took over as the title sponsor for the Indian Premier League’s 2022 and 2023 seasons. The conglomerate is all set for its 30th firm to be listed on exchanges. The group has received SEBI's nod for Tata Technologies IPO, the conglomerate's first after 19 years