Tata hits top gear with sales boost

India's Tata Motors significantly beat forecasts for first-quarter profits as demand for its Jaguar and Land Rover brands continued to rise.

During the three months to the end of June, Tata sold 181,708 vehicles, up 48 per cent from a year earlier. Increased demand from wealthy, brand-conscious buyers in China, India and other emerging markets helped the company, which bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008, to report a net profit of 19.9 billion rupees (270 million) for the quarter, compared to a loss of 3.29 billion rupees a year earlier.

Car sales in India hit a record high in July, jumping 38 per cent from a year earlier, boosted by the launch of new models and the strong economy. Tata is also behind the ultra-cheap Nano car.