Ratan Tata, the man behind the renaissance of JLR, has passed away aged 86 years.
The company said: “It is with deep sadness and with a heavy heart that we inform you of the demise of our beloved chairman, Ratan N Tata, a legend of our times who passed away on 9 October 2024.
“While we will miss his physical presence, he will always live in our hearts and minds. We rededicate ourselves to carrying forward his legacy and that of the founders, which is rooted in India’s civilisational values and strives for the welfare of all.”
Described as a “titan” of industry, Ratan Tata led the huge multinational company from 1990 to 2012, a period during which time Tata took ownership of Jaguar Land Rover.
In a 2008 interview with Autocar UK, Ratan Tata spoke of his passion for the brands, which are still owned by his company to this day.
“What attracted us was the fact that these are two iconic brands, global in nature and highly respected for their products.
“We believe it is the duty of whoever owns them to nurture the image, to retain their touch and feel, and not to tinker with them. They are British brands, and they should remain British. Who actually owns them should not be very important in the way they work.”
Under Tata ownership JLR has exited a sustained period of financial uncertainty to achieve its highest profit in years. It is currently embarking on an overhaul of all its product lines and brand positioning.
JLR CEO Adrian Mardell paid tribute to Ratan Tata: “The entire JLR family is profoundly saddened by the death of Mr. Ratan Tata. His personal achievements and legacy are unequalled in society, and the mark he leaves on our business and brands is greater than that of any other individual.
“We owe everything we have become…to his unwavering support and dedication.
“On behalf of everyone at JLR, I would like to offer our sincerest thanks for his remarkable leadership.”
Tata is also known as the mastermind behind the Tata Nano, and the larger Tata Indica. The latter became one of India’s best-selling cars.
Tata was a car enthusiast, spending large amounts of time at JLR’s test track, driving company and competitor products.
Crucial models launched or developed by JLR during his tenure as Tata chairman include the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery Sport and F-Type, F-Pace and I-Pace Jaguars.
