We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Tata Motors has announced that it will discontinue its JT Special Vehicles (JTSV) venture with Jayem Automotives. Tata Motors said that it will discontinue its JTP brand of performance cars due to reduced demand for such niche vehicles in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

JT Special Vehicles (JTSV), a 50:50 joint venture between Jayem Automotives and Tata Motors, made high-performance versions of Tata Motors’ passenger cars. Formed in 2017, the venture had so far developed and marketed the Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP. The Tiago and Tigor JTP were powered by 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engines putting out 114hp. The styling was also tweaked and the bigger tyres were noticeable. The Tiago JTP had a 0-100 km/hr timing of 9.95 seconds while the Tigor JTP claimed 10.38 seconds.

Sadly, existing buyers of the JTP models could be facing a few problems. They will not be able to extend the warranty of the cars any longer and they could run into maintenance issues since around 150 parts are different from the regular Tiago and Tigor.

Tata Motors said that it will buy the 50% stake of Jayem Automotives in JTSV before discontinuing the venture. Once the procedure is completed, JTSV will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors.

Tata Motors’ statement on the matter read, “The Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP that were launched in 2018, gained much appreciation for their styling and performance, forming a loyal follower base. However, the passenger car industry witnessed a challenging FY19-20, exacerbated with the mandatory change in regulations and the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted the demand in this niche category of vehicles. In light of this ongoing scenario, both Tata Motors and Jayem Automotives found it prudent to discontinue this venture. Tata Motors will continue to provide all requisite support and service to customers and users of Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP cars at its select dealerships, ensuring hassle-free ownership.”