Microlise, the market leading transport management systems provider, has welcomed a delegation of senior management from Indian company Tata Motors, one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers.
The visit follows the recent announcement of a partnership between the two companies which will see Microlise power the Tata FleetMan telematics system, which is set to revolutionise the Indian transport sector.
Through the multi-million pound agreement, Microlise will supply Tata Motors with in-vehicle hardware, in addition to a web-based portal allowing Tata Motors’ customers to easily access key information regarding fleet performance and utilisation. The data generated through the Tata FleetMan system will allow transport companies to reduce fuel usage and environmental impact, as well as increase efficiency and return on investment from their transportation assets.
During the week-long visit, the delegation from Tata Motors met with existing Microlise customers to learn how telematics are being used within the UK and in Europe. An event to celebrate to the partnership was held with business leaders from Nottingham and representation from UK Trade & Investment.
Nadeem Raza, Microlise Managing Director, and Dr Tim Leverton, Tata Motors’ President and Head of Advanced and Product Engineering, addressed a select audience on the benefits the partnership will bring, both in the UK and in India.
Nadeem Raza said: “This is an exciting time for Microlise and we were delighted to welcome the management delegation from Tata Motors to the UK. This visit will allow Microlise and Tata Motors to progress the relationship further, as we head towards the launch of the system in the Indian transport market. We’ve already built a great working relationship and we’re excited about working with Tata Motors over the coming years”.
Tata Motors’ Dr Leverton was joined by Dr Ajit Kumar Jindal, the firm’s Head of Engineering Commercial Vehicles, Vinod Sahay Head of Sales and Marketing Medium and Heavy Trucks, and Sanjay Gupta, Head of Telematics and Fleet Management Services, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit.
Tata Motors initially launched the Tata FleetMan Telematics and Fleet Management services brand two years ago, in response to growing market needs for better fleet control and greater fleet utilisation within the Indian transport market. The company later identified the need to work with a partner to bring advanced functionality to the market, to meet the growing needs of the modern customer.
Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director of the commercial vehicles business unit at Tata Motors in New Delhi, said: “As the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in India, we have been spearheading the change in the Indian transport industry for many years now.
“We at Tata Motors wish to lead the shift towards electronic control of drivelines and other vehicle systems. We also wish to harness the power and potential of such a digital approach by introducing advanced telematics and fleet management services. Tata FleetMan’s partnership with Microlise is a step in that direction. We firmly believe that this association has the potential to transform the way commercial vehicle fleets are managed in India.”
The deal was assisted by government department UK Trade & Investment which supported Microlise.
UK Trade Minister Lord Livingston said: “I’m delighted that Microlise has signed this deal to supply Tata Motors with telematics technology in India and UKTI has been able to support them. This is a great example of an innovative, fast growing British company exporting a new technology and collaborating with Tata, a leading global brand. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and there is a huge opportunity to increase British exports there.”
About Microlise
Microlise is a leading Transport Management Systems provider. Our systems, underpinned by market leading telematics technology, enable customers to reduce operating costs and environmental impact by maximising the efficiency of their transportation. Key drivers for implementing a Microlise system are to increase utilisation & productivity, reduce fleet & operational costs, improve customer service, improve driver safety & fuel economy and ultimately lower CO2 emissions. For more information, please visit www.microlise.com.
About Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is India’s largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of INR 2, 32,834 crores (USD 38.9 billion) in 2013-14. Through subsidiaries and associate companies, Tata Motors has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia. Among them is Jaguar Land Rover, the business comprising the two iconic British brands. It also has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 8 million Tata vehicles plying in India, Tata Motors is the country’s market leader in commercial vehicles and among the top in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest truck manufacturer and fourth largest bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, CIS and Russia.