NDTV: What is the kind of strategy we are going to see? Is it going to be significantly different from what your predecessor Ravi Kant followed? You have been in the industry for the last 35 years and you are well aware of how the Tata Motors functions. Keeping in mind, the difficult scenario in which you are taking over the reins, what is it that we can expect from you in the next couple of quarters and a year down the line? Telang: No immediate comments at the moment. We are fairly optimistic of the future and we hope that things would start to improve from here on.NDTV: There has been a lot of talk about the commercial vehicle market and whether the recovery has set in as yet. What is the current scenario and when would the recovery really begin?
Telang: The worst period was from October 2008 to December 2008 and after December 2008, things started improving progressively. But it has not still come to the desirable level. We are still running at the lower levels when compared to the previous year. And mind you the previous year itself was not a very good year so considering all that I think things should start getting better from here and I am sure the government will support that. NDTV: The budget is round the corner. What is that we can expect…if one was to ask you what would be one or two key demands that you would look out for? Telang: We won't put specific demands. You see that most countries have been going in for some kind of plans for helping the automobile industry. Our government has done a few things in the form of giving concession on the excise duty and increasing the rate of depreciation. We expect it would do something more. It would be helpful. NDTV: What are the key triggers required to bring in the recovery in the commercial vehicle market? Telang: The lowering of interest rates, considering that the inflation has become very low. In fact inflation has turned negative. I would expect that interest rates would start falling, which will make the capital cheaper to acquire. NDTV: When do you see commercial vehicle market really coming back into the positive territory? Telang: It is difficult to make a statement. All I can say is that we are optimistic that things will start improving from here onward but a lot would depend on what our government does. All said and done, we are part of the global economy and what happens in the world has its own effect. So unless the entire global economy starts to move in a big way, one would not see a spectacular jump. Having said that, I think if government decides to do a few things like growth of infrastructure etc we would start seeing things improving faster. NDTV: Two important projects have been implemented in the last six months. First, the launch of Nano and the other, the launch of World Truck. On Nano, when would deliveries begin and when would the next allotment start? Telang: In July you should hopefully see Nanos on the Indian road. NDTV: And when does the next round of bookings take place? Telang: It is too early to make a comment. NDTV: What about the capacity which has been talked about in detail? What about the ramp up at Gujarat? Telang: We are currently operating from Pantnagar. In less than 12 months time, production will begin in Gujarat and that’s when you would see the ramp up taking place. NDTV: On the World Truck, when do we see them in the market and how are you going to position them? Telang: World Truck is a full range of vehicles and some of the products will be out in the next month or two. And I do believe that it will be reasonably priced.