Ratan Tata turns 84: Untold Story of Tata's tit for tat to Ford Motors

• Image Credit: Internet

• Dec 28, 2021 | moderator

Digital Desk: Today marks the birthday of the most recognised and esteemed Indian industrialist and philanthropist, Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata turns 84 today. 

On this special day, let us read through an untold story of Tata taking an act of sweet payback from Ford Motors, paving tit for tat.

A very few know the story of Ratan Tata and Ford Motors. Ratan Tata is one of the leading Indian industrialists, ex-Chairman of the largest Indian conglomerate, Tata Group of Companies. In 1999, Ratan tried to sell his company to Ford Motors.

The story goes back to 1998. Tata Motors projected its first passenger automobile, 'INDICA', hoping to hit the Indian market. However, not everything that one plans out turns out to be true. So just after the launch, INDICA turned out to be a total failure. It was a significant loss in the life of Ratan that placed a lot of burden on Tata.

As a consequence, the company faced a huge loss. Moreover, the poor reaction from the company had caused Tata Motors to sell the struggling passenger vehicle enterprise.4

With his team in tow, Ratan travelled to Detroit to sell off their fledgling passenger car business to Ford, who had faked interest. However, when Ratan Tata met Ford Motors officials, they humiliated Ratan Tata.

Also Read: KL Rahul likely to lead Team India in SA ODIs

Ford Motors officials said," You do not know anything, why did you start the passenger car division? Tata should not dream of the passenger car manufacturing business as they didn't deserve that." 

Even though Ratan was insulted by the officials, he left the office without any deal. But, no one was aware of the new plan that was cooking in the mind of Ratan Tata.

In Mumbai, Ratan Tata involved himself in passenger vehicle units and began concentrating on forming the most indigenous Indian passenger car. With a forceful marketing plan, Tata cars became one of the best-selling cars in Indian car history within a few years. 

After many years, the table turned for both Tata and Ford Motors when Ford Motors reeled in bankruptcy due to the global breakdown. Tata took sweet payback by acquiring Ford company's luxury and iconic Jaguar and Land Rover labels for $2.3 billion.

Tata has turned Jaguar Land Rover into the premium, luxury and most refined engine. This takeover also has turnaround Tata Motors finances to a great height. 

Ratan has shown how his strategies and focus on his plan can turn the tables around. So there can be nothing worth reading than reading this small chapter of Ratan Tata's sucess story on his birthday.