Response #2

Throughout Robyn Meredith’s The Elephant and the Dragon, there are multiple references to the rising Tata Group of India. A few months ago, in the mist of the U.S. economic strife, I remember reading a New York Times article “New Life for Jaguar Under Tata Motors” on the purchase of Jaguar Cars Ltd. by Tata Motors, part of the Tata Group, from Ford Motor Company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/automobiles/04TATA.html

Tata Motors has clearly grown to challenge the stronghold US companies have on not only the luxury car industry but the fuel efficient, economic car market as well. Tata motors “recently created a stir by introducing a new car for India, the Nano, which costs just $2,500”. Tata Motors is only one fraction of the Tata conglomerate whose dominion is diverse and far reaching including steel, tea, watches, and publishing (New Life for Jaguar). I could not think of one US industry whose reach is as diverse as that of the Tata Group.

Rereading the New York Times article after having read Robyn Meredith’s book, it reinforced Meredith’s point of India’s rising status. Recent developments in the Tata-Ford deal has shown that India's dependence on the US economy has lead to an instability within the country. The recent strain on the three car giants-GM, Ford, and Chrysler-has affected Tata Motors as well. As a result, some of the Tata Motor plants have already ceased production (Motor Industry Caught in Eye of Storm) http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2008/1119/1227026408003.html

The Tata-Ford deal defies some of the assumed results of India’s rise. Meredith focuses a great deal on “offshoring,” or the transfer of jobs from one country to another. Offshoring seems to be a probable outcome of the Tata-Ford deal, yet “Tata has pledged to retain most of the companies employees and managers” (New Life for Jaguar). This serves as a reassurance for the US's ailing workforce.