 | | Tata chairman Ratan Tata poses with the newly launched "Nano", the 'People's Car', at the Auto Expo in New Delhi today. Pic: Parveen Negi | | Carnama -- Special features | • 20 km per litre/ 50 miles per gallon, the first car will roll-out by October,'second half of the financial year'.
• The low-end car has a rear engine placement but the benchmark was the Marurti-800. It is 20 per cent smaller in size than the Maruti-800 but has 20 per cent more interior volume than the Maruti. It can seat 4 persons with comfort.
• It has passed the Euro-4 emission norms.
• 2,50,000 cars will roll out in the first year in a two shift work phase.
• Tatas filed 40 patents for this car to ensure it controls all variants.
• Virtually everything in the car has been designed by the Tata engineers.
| New Delhi: "We had initially thought it could be a car with no doors and plastic roll-up windows. But we gave up that idea. I welcome competition and all I want to give to the Indians is a car that is safe and high on efficiency," said Ratan Tata to a group of senior editors over breakfast in Delhi today.
The Tatas' new People's car was launched in the capital at 11.50 am today. It's called the "Nano" (meaning small), and comes at a dealer price of Rs 1 lakh.
At 70, Ratan Tata, chairman of India's largest conglomerate, the Tata Group, could arguably be one of the most dapper business tycoons in any boardroom. Barely three hours away from launching what could be the world's cheapest four wheeler, he still seemed much at ease, sharing a breakfast table with a select group of invited media heads.
"Yes I have had just three hours of sleep in the last 24 hours but I am not apprehensive or tense," he quipped, tuning up with warmth in the Delhi cold.
But, this Tata was different. Missing was his trademark humour and tongue in cheek one-liners. This time, Ratan Tata had his boxing gloves on. Even before he started off on his 'people's car', he was onto his detractors.
"The world across, there are friends who have appreciated the effort. But in India, and among some Indians, it is really sad that our effort is being questioned. And there is so much scepticism and disbelief".
Tata's dream car has been the Indica. "That was the real test when we showed the world we are not just truck makers but into the passenger car business too. This time, the apprehension is whether a low cost variant is possible. What we have worked upon is not to compromise on safety," he said.
"The project was first an idea. Can we give something back to the country? Then, transforming the idea into reality was the toughest part. What has surprised me is people questioning us on how the petro economy will go for a toss. It is extremely disturbing. Please damn me, but dont damn the initiative," he said. "We have successfully conducted the Front Crash Test for this car. The Side Car Test, which is mandatory from the European market viewpoint, will be done soon," he added.
Currently, there are at least two other countries who have requested the Tatas to take the People's car to their country. I am not naming them as yet.
"Some people dream in the night. Some in the day. I call them ideas. What's my next dream project? I don't know but a thought is to take low cost, safe mineral water to rural India. If it becomes philanthropic, so be it. If I can make it profitable, why not?" concluded Tata. | 
