On US tour, Mr. Tata gives Jaguar and Rover dealers a hug

01/07/2008 19:40. Barely two weeks after closing the deal with Ford this month, Tata invited Aron and a few other Chicago area Jaguar and Rover dealers to dinner at Chicago's Peninsula Hotel. Tata asked the dealers to tell him their ideas and wishes for their brands.

Over steaks, the chairman and his secretary took notes on the comments. Dealers asked the new owner for a convertible Jaguar sports car. They alerted Tata that Bentley, owned by Volkswagen AG, has become a fierce new competitor for them and that Jaguar must have a higher-end car to compete with Bentley.

Tata nodded and wrote that down. His newly named Jaguar global CEO, David Smith, also took notes and asked questions.

The next day, Tata and his group came calling on Aron's dealership. Aron laid out a spread of fresh fruit, decorated with... // AutoWeek