Indian software development boosted by Ferrari backing

By Steve Malone

Posted on 6 Dec 2004 at 14:33

Indian software firm Tata Consultancy Services has won a 'multi-year, multimillion' dollar deal to help design engines for Ferrari's Formula 1 cars. The company's expertise is likely to appear on the track as early as next season.

Tata says that its engineers will also be contributing to the development of Ferrari's world famous sports car range.

The deal will be seen as a huge boost in the prestige of India's indigenous software industry. Whilst India has gained a reputation for high quality and low cost outsourced work, the country's industry has landed few such high profile, prestigious deals in its own right. Last week Microsoft announced that it was intending to build a second asian research and development lab in India to take advantage of the local expertise.

N. Chandrasekharan, executive vice president of TCS said, 'When the season begins in March 2005 and the famous red car wins Formula 1 races, we will know that we have contributed to the success'.

The exact terms of the deal have not been disclosed.