Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Motors who recently acquired the British marquees Jaguar and Land Rover for $3 Billion is on a U.S. tour to meet the brands oldest and biggest dealers and in the process won some hearts too. Some of Tata’s biggest critics before the deal happened, like the head of Jaguar’s dealer council, Florida dealer Ken Gorin who made headlines saying ”India is not the appropriate market for the luxury marquee and that India is a nation of bicyclists” is completely reversed after metting Mr. Tata. “I was wrong” he admits saying “Any concern I may have had has been completely dispelled. I couldn’t be more impressed.”

“Ratan Tata is very humble and self-effacing. But he’s also a fully engaged entrepreneur, and Jaguar hasn’t been run by an entrepreneur since the beginning of time.”, He added.

Mr. Tata also took feedback from the dealers at dinner in Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel asking them to share their ideas and wishes for the two brands. Dealers warned him of the impending competition from Volkawagen owned Bentley saying they need a more upscale model to compete with Bentley while also making clear the need for a convertible sports car like the F-Type and a convertible XJ.

One of India’s most respected businessman in India, Mr. Tata also left a warm impression in the minds of Land Rover and Jaguar dealers he met.

“I’ve been a Jaguar dealer for 40 years,” says Norm Tompkins, owner of San Jose British Motors near San Francisco, whom Tata invited to lunch. “In all the years Ford owned us, I never met a single Ford executive.”

“I was never hugged as much by my own father as I was hugged by him,” Aron admits. Aron, one of the first Jaguar dealers in the United States, invited Tata to his 55-year-old Imperial Motors store in Wilmette, Ill.

“He embraces you and touches you, which is a good thing. To me, that’s the sign of a very warmhearted person.

“I’m telling you this,” Aron says, growing serious: “He’s going to make something out of Jaguar. We’re in good hands now. My son can see his future here now.”

Source: Autoweek