Approach

True to the tradition of the Tata Group, Tata Motors is committed in letter and spirit to Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, and is engaged in community and social initiatives on labour and environment standards in compliance with the principles of the Global Compact. In accordance with this, it plays an active role in community development, serving rural communities adjacent to its manufacturing locations.

Tata Motors believes in technology for tomorrow. Our products stand testimony to this. Our annual expenditure on R&D is approximately 2% of our turnover. We have also set up two in-house Engineering Research Centres that house India's only Certified Crash Test Facility. We ensure that our products are environmentally sound in a variety of ways. These include reducing hazardous materials in vehicle components, developing extended life lubricants, fluids and using ozone-friendly refrigerants. Tata Motors has been making conscious effort in the implementation of several environmentally sensitive technologies in manufacturing processes. The Company uses some of the world's most advanced equipment for emission check and control.

Tata Motors has been at the forefront of the Indian automobile industry's anti-pollution efforts by introducing cleaner engines. It is the first Indian Company to introduce vehicles with Euro norms well ahead of the mandated dates. Tata Motors' joint venture with Cummins Engine Company, USA, in 1992, was a pioneering effort to introduce emission control technology for India. Over the years, Tata Motors has also made investments in setting up of an advanced emission-testing laboratory.

With the intention of protecting the environment, Tata Motors has upgraded the performance of its entire range of four and six cylinder engines to meet international emission standards. This has been accomplished with the help of world-renowned engine consultants like Ricardo and AVL. These engines are used in Tata Motors vehicles in the Indian market, as well as in over 70 export markets.

Tata Motors is constantly working towards developing alternative fuel engine technologies. It has manufactured CNG version of buses and followed it up with a CNG version of its passenger car, the Indica.

Tata Motors has set up effluent treatment facilities in its plants, to avoid release of polluted water into the ecosystem. In Pune, the treated water is conserved in lakes attracting various species of birds from around the world thus turning the space into a green belt.

Tree plantation programmes involving villagers and Tata Motors employees, have turned acres of barren village green. Tata Motors has planted as many as 80,000 trees in the works and the township and more than 2.4 million trees have been planted in Jamshedpur region. Over half a million trees have been planted in the Pune region. Tata Motors has directed all its suppliers to package their products in alternate material instead of wood.