‘We showed the world we could do something,’ Ratan Tata shared journey of Tata Indica

Ratan Tata on Tata Indica: The nation grieves the loss of Ratan Tata, one of India's most revered industrialists and philanthropists, who passed away last night at the age of 86 at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai. 

Among his many contributions to India’s industrial landscape, one of the most celebrated was his determination to prove that India could build its own car — a dream that led to the birth of the Tata Indica.

In one of his speeches reflecting on this achievement, Tata once shared what he considered one of the greatest pleasures of his life. "I decided that India could produce its own car," Tata had said, recounting the challenge he faced when launching the Indica, the first car designed and manufactured entirely in India. 

Everyone told me this could not be done: Ratan Tata

"Everybody, my friends overseas in the automobile business, said that this couldn't be done," he recalled. Industry experts at the time insisted that a collaboration with foreign automakers was necessary for India to develop a car, citing the need for imported know-how and technology. Yet, Ratan Tata, with his trademark resolve, embarked on the audacious journey to create a car with one hundred per cent Indian content.

When the Tata Indica was finally launched in 1998, Tata admitted that he had moments of doubt. "I suddenly felt that I didn't have a friend in the world and that all the warnings people had given me were probably going to come true," he said. 

The initial reviews were far from encouraging, with sceptics quick to criticise the ambitious project. Yet, Tata's vision prevailed. The Indica soon captured 20 per cent of the market, a triumph that silenced critics and proved India’s capability to build a car of its own.

Ratan Tata led Tata Motors to new heights

Tata's determination to see India thrive through innovation extended far beyond the automotive sector. Over the course of his career, he led the Tata Group to become one of the world’s most respected conglomerates, making groundbreaking acquisitions such as Jaguar Land Rover and expanding into industries as diverse as steel, hospitality, and telecommunications.