AUTOSHOW-India's Tata to stay leader in trucks, export more

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Tata Motors Ltd (TAMO.BO) (TTM.N), India's top vehicle maker, aims to remain the leader in commercial vehicles and target more international markets, its chairman said.

"We would seek to retain leadership in commercial vehicles and you will see more intervention in alternate fuels and alternate mobility in both commercial vehicles and passenger cars," Ratan Tata told reporters late on Thursday.

Tata Motors, also India's third-biggest car maker, on Thursday unveiled the world's cheapest car, which may also be exported to markets in south east Asia, Africa and South America.

"Technically, it's ready for international markets now. But we will focus on the local market for the first two-three years," Tata told reporters hours after the glitzy unveiling of Nano.

Tata Motors is also talking to UK distributors for its next-generation Indica hatchback, which is fitted with a 1.3-litre diesel engine and a 1.2-litre gasoline engine.

Tata Motors had a distribution deal with MG Rover and has been keen to re-enter the market since the UK car firm folded up.

The company, which has nearly 60 percent of the Indian bus and truck market, is looking to enter eastern European markets and will start commercial vehicle operations in Russia and Poland shortly, Managing Director Ravi Kant said.

For its eco-car project in Thailand, for which it has made an application, the company could build a new car or a variant of an existing model to meet the specifications of a "green" car, he said.

Tata said Tata Motors, which has a joint venture with Italy's Fiat (FIA.MI) for cars, engines and transmissions and trucks, will extend its range of passenger vehicles through more alliances and joint developments.

"We're not trying to be a global player, we're trying to internationalise our operations," he said. (Reporting by Rina Chandran; Editing by Charlotte Cooper)