Tata Harrier production to begin by end 2018 - Report

The production of the Tata Harrier, a new SUV based on the Tata H5X Concept, will commence before the end of 2018, reports ET Auto. The Hyundai Creta rival will debut in November 2018 with sales expected to begin in early 2019.

The information was published in an ET Auto report today, elaborating on Tata Motors' plans to invest USD 1 billion in the passenger vehicles business. The investment will go towards tooling and prepare its manufacturing facilities in Gujarat and Maharashtra for the production of vehicles based on the 'Alfa' referred to as AMP or Advanced Modular Platform, and the Land Rover Discovery Sport derived 'Omega' platforms.

Tata is setting up a new manufacturing line at its facility near Pune for the production of the Tata Harrier. First to roll off the lines will be the 5-seat version, followed by the 7-seat version. The latter will be launched within a year of the Harrier's arrival in the market, the report claims.

The Omega platform, which forms the basis of the Tata H5X's production version, is a derivative of JLR's D8 platform. However, Tata engineers have remade it for cost effectiveness. The Omega and Alfa platforms put together could spawn as many as twelve products over the next five years.

The Tata Harrier will borrow the Jeep Compass' 2.0 L Multijet II diesel engine. It has been reported that the 5-seat version (codename: Tata Q501) will use a 140 hp version of this engine while the 7-seat version (codename: Q502), slated to arrive in 2020, will employ a 180 hp version.

Also Read - Tata Harrier (Tata H5X) could come with a petrol engine

The upcoming Tata SUV is gunning for the Hyundai Creta. Expect prices to fall in the INR 10-15 lakh range (ex-showroom). Rivals would be the Renault Duster, Renault Captur, and the Mahindra Scorpio. By 2021, the Tata Harrier would have a new rival from Honda as well.

[source - ET Auto]