Tata Returns to SA

Tata Is Back in South Africa | Thato Magasa on Affordability, Tech & Motus Strategy - cars.co.za​

Thato Magasa – Motus Chief Executive Officer: Emerging Brands

Today’s podcast interview is with Thato Magasa, the CEO of Emerging Brands (Tata and Mitsubishi) for Motus, where he discusses the automotive market in South Africa.

Thato provides an overview of the re-emergence of the Tata brand into the South African market, emphasizing its focus on affordability, safety, as well as introducing the next level of tech in the entry-level hatchback and compact SUV segments.

We also look at the Mitsubishi brand's performance and future plans, including the upcoming launch of a super high-power Triton model and a focus on growing its 4x4 segment while maintaining its exceptional reputation for reliability and quality.

For both brands Thato highlights the Motus network's comprehensive support. Motus is a parent which can deliver dealership coverage, parts distribution, and after-sales assurance to ensure customer confidence in both brands.
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From production to showroom: How Tata Motors is empowering women in South Africa

As the world marked International Women’s Day, Tata Motors has a growing role of women across its South African operations, from leadership positions to dealer showrooms and aftersales departments.

According to Daphne Greyling, general manager of Dealer Sales at Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles South Africa, the company has deliberately expanded female representation throughout its local business.

Indian inspiration

“Inspired by the women from the Pimpri-Chinchwad plant, Tata Motors South Africa has been intentional in employing women across our organisation, from leadership roles to marketing and aftersales,” said Greyling.

The local importer currently operates through a dealer network of more than 40 outlets across the country, with women employed in a range of positions.

These roles include sales consultants, finance and insurance specialists, service advisors and administrative staff.

Greyling said the presence of women in dealerships has also influenced the retail experience for customers.

“Buying a car might be a substantial financial undertaking, however, it is also an emotional decision. We still believe that people do business with people, but the automotive industry can be daunting for women.

“We have seen first-hand how our female customers are considerably more comfortable dealing with a woman when they are shopping for a new car, doing a finance application or booking their Tata in for a service,” she said.

The company said the local strategy is influenced by initiatives introduced at its manufacturing operations in India.

Indian production staffed entirely by women

At the company’s passenger vehicle manufacturing facility in Pimpri-Chinchwad, more than 1,700 women have been employed on an all-women vehicle assembly line since 2020.

The plant forms part of Tata Motors’ production operations in Pune and produces several of the company’s SUV models, including the Safari and Harrier.

Employees are recruited from communities across the state of Maharashtra and initially enter the programme as trainees.

Training includes both practical shop-floor work and technical instruction before staff move into specialised roles within the production process.

The company said the aim of the initiative was to expand participation by women in vehicle manufacturing, a sector traditionally dominated by male workers.

Engineers also redesigned sections of the production line to improve ergonomics and reduce the physical strain associated with certain manufacturing tasks.

This included the introduction of manipulators and robotics, raised workstations and redesigned lifting and torquing equipment.

According to Tata Motors, some of these design changes have subsequently been introduced at other production facilities, benefiting workers across the broader manufacturing network.

 
REVIEW: Tata Curvv brings bold style to SUV market, but does it deliver where it counts?

VERDICT

The Tata Curvv is a distinctive and characterful addition to the compact crossover segment. While its comfort and design stand out, shortcomings in refinement and perceived build quality mean it’s unlikely to trouble the segment’s heavy hitters. Instead, it feels destined to remain a niche choice — at least until Tata’s more conventional offerings, like the upcoming Nexon, arrive to broaden its appeal.

 
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