A picture of Lord Bhattacharyya and Ratan Tata

Coventry City Council notes with considerable regret the death of the Indian industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata - an honorary freeman of the city - on 9 October. 

Mr Tata, who led the group bearing his family name for 21 years, and during that time the company acquired Jaguar Land Rover in 2008, helped to secure the future of such an important regional brand and created thousands of jobs during his chairmanship.

The city made Mr Tata a freeman of the city in 2015 in recognition of the investment of Tata Steel into Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) which enhanced and protected the status of car manufacturing in the region, the JLR brand and particularly the employment of its employees and many subsidy suppliers, supported by the Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Council leader Cllr George Duggins expressed his personal and the city's sadness: "Ratan Tata was a great friend of the region and of the city in particular. 

"Through his support to regenerate Jaguar Land Rover, his role in establishing the National Automotive Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick, his contribution to Coventry's confident regeneration can not be underestimated.

"I have written to the Tata family to pay the respects of the council and all its residents to titan of the business world."

Published: Thursday, 10th October 2024