Amid declining sales of its vehicles across all categories, Tata Motors is supporting its component suppliers to deal

with the slowdown in the automotive market. Though the firm has not yet offered any financial package to its vendors, it is planning to help them reduce their operational costs through various measures. Chief Financial Officer of Tata Motors, C Ramakrishnan said In many cases we work with the vendors to help them to reduce cost or help them improve quality or help them improve their operating efficiencies, and such help and collaborative working with the vendors will always be there.He, however, did not specify any particular step that the company is undertaking to help suppliers to deal with the slowdown.It may take different shapes on a caseto-case basis, so there is no major announcement I have to make, Ramakrishnan said. FALL OF DEMAND ON MEDIUM AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICALS: Tata Motors medium and heavy commercial vehicle business is affected due to demand slump, while the passenger car segment is seeing low volume sales along with relatively low levels of capacity utilisation for most manufacturers. Earlier this month, Tata Motors reported a 52.2% year-on-year fall in consolidated net profit for the October-December quarter at Rs.1,636 crore, the first decline in five quarters, due to poor sales in domestic market. Also, in the third quarter, Tata Motors sold 2,05,291 vehicles against 2,31,328 units a year ago, down 11.3%. Unless the government starts investing in infrastructure projects and mines start operating at their previous levels, Tata Motors feels that the subdued domestic demand for medium/heavy commercial vehicles (MCV/HCV) would continue. Tata Motors' local plant head A B Lall said, Few years back the production is used to be 12,000 medium & heavy commercial vehicles a month but now it was declined to 8,000-8,500 chassis a month. The local plant's production target for June 2014 has been kept between 8,000 and 8,500 units, which was similar to that it had achieved in May. Despite the first quarter being "not so good" volume-wise, the auto major had yet maintained its leadership in terms of market share of 65% in the commercial vehicles segment. Tata Motors said its total passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 11,804 units in June, down 31.54 per cent from 17,244 units in the same month last year. To overcome this situation Tata Motors on Jun 19th launched eight upgraded models of its cars, across five brands. The company introduced enhanced versions of Indigo eCS, Sumo Gold, Nano, Indica and Safari. These are the following features in each brand

Tata Nano: Tata Nano has new features including remote keyless entry, twin gloveboxes, and a four-speaker music system with Bluetooth USB. It will also come in new exterior colours. The car will be available in dealerships by July 2013. The CNG variant of the Nano will be called EMAX. Tata Indigo eCS: Tata has made changes to this executive compact sedan's exteriors and interiors. The new version comes equipped with a CR4 diesel engine which delivers 25 kmpl (ARAI certified) mileage, claims Tata. The eCS facelift has blackened headlamps, new chrome grille, chrome strip at the rear for top end model. Along with exterior changes, the new Indigo eCS gets an improved F-type gearbox and advance suspension setup, says Tata Motors. Tata Sumo Gold: The new Sumo Gold comes equipped with a CR4 engine, dual AC and new music system with Bluetooth and exterior decals. Tata claims that the car has a fuel economy of 15.3 kmpl. Tata Indica: The new Tata Indica comes with dual tone interiors and new transmission (Smartshift gear technology). The car has a fuel efficiency of 25 kmpl (for the BS4 variant), claims Tata. Tata Safari Storme - Explorer Edition: The range of accessories in the Explorer Edition include a touchscreen Double DIN Infotainment system, nudge guard, door visors, explorer decals and adventure gears like camping kits, backpack etc. These accessories will initially be available in select Tata Motors outlets. Speaking on the occasion, Karl Slym, Managing Director, Tata Motors, said, "While the Indian automobile market has become intensely competitive, our goal is to enhance our market leadership in commercial vehicles and move to a strong podium finish in the passenger vehicle market." "Horizonext is the next step in line with the company's mission to be passionate in anticipating and providing the best vehicles and experiences that excite our customers globally. We are igniting that passion -- so that customers are central to us, in what we are offering in our products, in the manner we are engaging with them at our dealerships, and in the processes we have adopted in servicing their vehicles," said Slym. Ranjit Yadav, president, Passenger Vehicle Business Units at Tata Motors said that while the company is working towards the next-generation product pipeline, on Wednesday the company was bringing best-in-class vehicle experience across different passenger car categories to enhance some of our great existing brands. "Besides offering exciting new features, these cars will be backed by an engaging purchase experience and a transformed after-sales network," added Yadav. The year FY-13 was one of the worst year for Tata Motors on a standalone basis. ON the operational level, the company had incurred losses, the net profit at Rs 300 crore was one of the worst in a decade and revenues fell 18% for the company. THe company's market share in passenger vehicle space dropped below 10%, the lowest for a long time.