Al Hamad Automobiles executive director Mohamed Yousef al-Mana receives a plaque from Tata Motors executive director (Commercial Vehicles) Ravi Pisharody after the Middle East launching of two Tata Prima trucks at Project Qatar yesterday as Tata Motors head of International Business RT Wasan, Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora and Indian embassy deputy chief of mission P S Sasi Kumar look on.

There is strong potential in the Qatari market for Indian automobiles, specifically heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses, Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora said yesterday.

He was speaking to Gulf Times during the Middle East launching of two of Tata Motors’ next generation Prima heavy trucks being exhibited in Project Qatar 2014 at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

The trucks are the Tata Prima 6x4 tipper and the Tata Prima 4x2 tractor head.

“I would envisage that the market share of Indian automobile companies such as Tata Motors is bound to increase in Qatar in the coming months and years,” Arora explained.

To launch the two trucks, the ambassador led the ribbon cutting ceremony together with Tata Motors executive director (commercial vehicles) Ravi Pisharody, Tata Motors head of international business RT Wasan, Al Hamad Automobiles executive director Mohamed Yousef al-Mana, and Al Hamad Automobiles general manager George Annish.

According to Wasan, it took the company two years to complete testing and trial procedures for the two vehicles. Having validated the vehicles’ performance, he said Tata Motors was confident that their products will be “well received” in Qatar.

He noted that two years is the normal testing and trial period for Tata Prima trucks. “Every country has its unique performance cycle so we would just like to make sure that the product performs well in Qatar,” Wasan said, adding that the vehicles were tested on different sites and with different clients.

Pisharody said Tata Motors holds 60% of the market share in India and noted that the company is among the top three truck companies in India and among the top three bus companies in the world.

He added that vehicles manufactured at Tata Motors have been designed based on world-class European benchmarks.

Citing its 15-year presence in the country, Pisharody said he is confident that Tata Motors “will have a great opportunity” in the Middle East, particularly in Qatar.

Pisharody also said that Tata Motors is the only company with the rights for truck racing in India. Using British racing standards, Pisharody said Tata Motors had organised a racing event on March 23 this year using the Prima tractor head as its lead vehicle.

“It was greatly motivating since the racing event had proven that Tata Prima trucks are at par with other internationally renowned vehicles,” Pisharody said.

Al Hamad Automobiles general manager George Annish also expressed optimism in the future of the Tata Prima trucks in Qatar. He said: “Our expectation is high, especially with a brand like Tata Prima and we are expecting good market share in the near future.”