INDICA SHINING: The Indica, the car which changed Tata Motors' fortunes, is India's third best-selling car with sales of 8,463 units in May 2004.

The turnaround for Indica happened in 2001. After selling 55,758 units of Indica in the first year of its operation (April-March 1999-2000), sales dipped to 44,545 units in the following year. Industry watchers pooh-poohed Tata Chairman Ratan Tata's thrust into the passenger car segment and said the foray may hurt the Tatas like never before.

But the Tata chairman's conviction vindicated his stand. The introduction of an upgraded Indica V-2 (Version 2) in February 2001 helped it regain lost ground and significantly improve its market share.

In 2001, the Indica emerged as the fastest-selling automobile when it clocked sales of 100,000 units in less than 18 months. In September and October 2001, it became the largest-selling car (with sales of more than 5,000 units in the B segment.

In 2003-04, Indica saw its volumes increase by 11 per cent over the previous year. Tata Motors also registered a 315 percent rise in exports in 2003-2004, including the export of 6,700 units of the Indica Rover brand to the United Kingdom.

Among the 11 Indica models, the Diesel Std (DL) - E I will cost Rs 313,380 (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The top model DLX - EI I is priced at Rs 407,320 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

Photograph: Tata Motors Ltd

Also see: The Tata Legacy