Real life review & news

Chat with us

Have a question, comment, or concern? Our dedicated team of experts is ready to hear and assist you. Reach us through our social media, phone, or live chat.

You can email us on, s@namastecar.com

Tariffs, Transitions & Tight Turns: Tata Motors Navigates a Bumpy Q1 FY26 Ride

Mumbai – Tata Motors Ltd. (TML) kicked off FY26 with a quarter that could be best described as a scenic drive through a thunderstorm—beautiful new launches on the horizon, but plenty of potholes on the road.

Consolidated revenue came in at ₹104.4K crore, down 2.5% YoY, while EBITDA skidded 35.8% to ₹9.7K crore. The primary speed bump? Jaguar Land Rover’s US tariff troubles and a model changeover slowdown in passenger vehicles. Profit before tax (before exceptional items) parked at ₹5.6K crore, helped by a sharp drop in finance costs.

JLR’s tariff tango
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) delivered its 11th straight profitable quarter, but it felt the sting of hefty 27.5% US trade tariffs—something that even its most luxurious SUVs couldn’t off-road around. Revenues slipped 9.2% to £6.6 billion, and EBIT margin shrank to 4.0%. A UK-US trade deal signed in June and a fresh EU-US agreement in July promise relief, but the damage in Q1 was already done.

CV division: Smaller load, smoother ride
Tata’s Commercial Vehicles (CV) business proved the most resilient, with revenues down just 4.7% to ₹17.0K crore but EBITDA margins climbing to 12.2%. Domestic volumes dipped 9%, but exports surged 68%. The launch of the Ace Pro—the “India’s most affordable 4-wheel mini-truck”—was met with a warm market reception, suggesting that affordability still sells faster than torque figures.

PV division: Waiting for the green light
The Passenger Vehicles (PV) arm braked harder, with revenues down 8.2% to ₹10.9K crore and EBIT slipping into the red at -2.8%. EV penetration held steady at 13%, and the Harrier.ev drew 10,000 bookings on launch day, offering a silver lining for the quarters ahead. Tata Punch also flexed its muscles, becoming the fastest SUV in India to cross the 6 lakh sales mark in under four years.

Corporate pit stops
In between dodging tariffs and navigating model transitions, TML found time for big strategic moves—wrapping up NCLT hearings for its demerger (effective October 1, 2025) and announcing a €3.8 billion voluntary tender offer for Iveco Group N.V. (excluding Defence). The acquisition aims to turbocharge global reach and unlock new synergies.

Looking ahead: Eyes on the festive season
With monsoons predicted to be healthy, repo rates softening, and tariff relief on the horizon, Tata Motors is hoping for a stronger second half. PB Balaji, Group CFO, summed it up with measured optimism: “As tariff clarity emerges and festive demand picks up, we are aiming to accelerate performance and rebuild momentum across the portfolio.”

For now, Tata Motors may not have clocked a record-breaking lap in Q1 FY26, but with the road ahead smoothing out, it’s still very much in the race—headlights on, grille gleaming, and a glovebox full of bold plans.

Share this article
Shareable URL
Prev Post

3,28,613 Cars Hit Indian Roads in July 2025, Sales Dip Marginally by 0.81% YoY

Next Post

MINI on a Mission: Countryman Goes Full Bollywood in YRF’s ‘War 2’—Because Even Spies Need a Stylish Getaway Car

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read next