IT’S NOT just the Rs-1lakh car Tata Motors is banking on in 2008. It has lined up a spate of new launches, including the debut of its secondgeneration vehicles. For India’s largest automobile company, the launch hooter will start buzzing from the Auto Expo in January when it will unveil its next-generation global pick-up truck, Xenon. The company will also launch new platform for passenger vehicles like Indica, Indico and Sumo. The auto major will unveil a range of luxury buses in collaboration with Brazilian Marco Polo. The company will also announce the launch of its world truck from the Tata Daewoo Motor’s stable. The company will launch more than a dozen new products in the Indian market. A new Winger, its luxury light commercial vehicle. Fiat Motors’ Linea sedan and Grande Punto premium hatchback which will also be marketed by Tata Motors. Tata Motors spokesperson refused to comment on these launches. “As per our policy, we cannot disclose information on future product launches,” the spokesperson said. These products will form the largest range of launches by any Indian company in a single year. According to sources in the automobile industry, Tata Motors is banking on these vehicles to check its declining sales. Its ageing passenger vehicles and absence in the multi-axle heavy commercial vehicle segment have led to decline in sales. Tata Motors’ sales of both passenger and commercial vehicles decreased by 1.10% over last year to 1,91,306 units from 1,93,306 units in the April-August period. “Its going to be a year of Tata Motors. They will have a full plate with products in all segments. These are not mere launches, but will show a new mindset of high technology vehicles developed inhouse by Tata Motors. The company has also kept the export potential of these products in mind to offset any slump in the domestic market, which is highly cyclical in nature,” said an Mumbai based auto analyst. Besides the domestic market, Tata Motors plans to launch these vehicles in different overseas market of Southeast Asia, South Africa, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Latin America, and into the developed markets like Europe and the USA. The serial launches are likely to begin in January, while the last one to roll out in the market will be the ‘world truck’ late 2008