“The best revenge is massive success”—a quote by the late American singer and actor Frank Sinatra—perfectly fits Ratan Tata’s journey. Tata’s crucial decision in 1999 to not sell its struggling car division to Ford played a key role in Tata Motors’ rise to becoming the automotive giant it is today. Years later, Tata’s acquisition of Ford’s iconic brands, Jaguar and Land Rover, stands as one of the most remarkable stories of turning failure into success in the business world.
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When Ratan Tata met the Chairperson of Ford Motors
Tata’s car business struggled, leading to significant losses. A disheartened Ratan Tata then made the decision to sell the car division. In 1999, he approached Ford Motors for a potential deal and personally traveled to Detroit to meet Ford’s chairman, Bill Ford. During the meeting, Ford reportedly humiliated Tata, remarking that he should not have ventured into the car industry without knowing how to manufacture cars. This incident was also recalled by Praveen Kadle, a member of the team, in a 2015 interview.
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Tata’s Turning Point
After the meeting, Ratan Tata, known for his never give-up attitude, decided not to sell the car division. He burnt the midnight oil to transform Tata Motors and improve the Indica model. A new version of the car was launched, and it became an instant hit among the masses. It would go on to become one of Tata’s highest selling cars. Nine years later, Tata had his moment. The ‘Great Recession’ of 2008 hit Ford badly, and it was on the verge of bankruptcy.
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