WESTPORT AND TATA MOTORS LAUNCH NEW NATURAL GAS ENGINE

Westport Innovations and Tata Motors Limited, India’s largest automobile company, launched a new 3.8L spark-ignited turbocharged natural gas engine featuring the Westport WP580 Engine Management System (EMS). The WP580 EMS is also scheduled to be applied to Tata’s 5.7L engine to be used in medium duty applications in late 2014. With the establishment of its OEM footprint with Tata Motors, Westport is building upon its current natural gas component and aftermarket business in India. “India has one of the largest natural gas light duty vehicle fleets in the world, and we see an enormous opportunity for natural gas trucks and buses with the development of fueling infrastructure,” said Rajendra Petkar, Head Power Systems Engineering, ERC of Tata Motors. “By expanding our portfolio of natural gas engines, we are focused on increasing our market share of the natural gas vehicle and engine market.” The combined addressable market for light and medium duty vehicles in India is projected to be more than 493,000 units in 2014 based on Westport’s analysis.