Tata and Pininfarina Sitting in a Tree

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

The Times of London reports that Indian automaker (and Jaguar and Land Rover's new Daddy) Tata Motors will develop an Indian design and manufacturing center in Pune with iconic Italian design house Pininfarina. Tata will also "participate" in Pinin's $100m capital increase (a.k.a. bailout) this summer. The Times notes that Pininfarina's controlling family could be about to unload as much as 55 percent of the Italian firm's stock, opening the possibility of a complete Tata takeover. With ties already close between Tata and Fiat, a joint ownership scenario is also possible. In case you haven't guessed where all this is headed, Tata has set aside $1b for the development of new Jaguar models. Tata and Pinin are already hashing-out the next gen Jags, with an F-Type roadster rumored to lead the way.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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 3 comments
  • Cammy Corrigan Cammy Corrigan on Apr 28, 2008

    A Pinifarina styled Jaguar? I think I may be in love!

  • Seldomawake Seldomawake on Apr 28, 2008

    Jaguar is dead. Long live Jaguar! Mind you, it'll be gorgeous...

  • Nicodemus Nicodemus on Apr 29, 2008

    "A Pinifarina styled Jaguar? I think I may be in love!" Been done already, its called the Series III XJ. Besides that obvious example Pininfarina have done other studies for Jag from time to time, some good, most somewhat wide of the mark. In general Jag in-house stuff has been better.

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