Tata Nano The People's Car Launched

Tata Motor's 'Nano' was commercially launched in Mumbai on Monday promising to meet the expectations of people under some circumstances which is likely to bring about a change in the auto market in the nation.

Though the much awaited motor wonder was debuted in January 2008 and was expected to hit the market last year, its arrival was delayed by a dispute over the land where a purpose built facility was to come up.

"We are able to put the product before the public today and launch it publicly. We have done this in a good nine months before the new plant in Gujarat would come on stream because we felt that we needed to get the product in to the market. There had been a great deal of expectations and so we have fulfilled this under some circumstances,' said Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group.

Tata said the Nano aimed to provide four wheeler ownership from two wheeler for those who did not gain access for a car due to non affordability.

"We hope that on a day like this we will usher in a new form of transport. It was never conceived of its being the cheapest car. It was conceived of its being a car that would give the people an opportunity to own a car that had not been within their reach before," he said.

The Nano's ex-factory price is Rs. 1,00,000 (

Tata Motor's 'Nano' was commercially launched in Mumbai on Monday promising to meet the expectations of people under some circumstances which is likely to bring about a change in the auto market in the nation.

Though the much awaited motor wonder was debuted in January 2008 and was expected to hit the market last year, its arrival was delayed by a dispute over the land where a purpose built facility was to come up.

"We are able to put the product before the public today and launch it publicly. We have done this in a good nine months before the new plant in Gujarat would come on stream because we felt that we needed to get the product in to the market. There had been a great deal of expectations and so we have fulfilled this under some circumstances,' said Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group.

Tata said the Nano aimed to provide four wheeler ownership from two wheeler for those who did not gain access for a car due to non affordability.

"We hope that on a day like this we will usher in a new form of transport. It was never conceived of its being the cheapest car. It was conceived of its being a car that would give the people an opportunity to own a car that had not been within their reach before," he said.

The Nano's ex-factory price is Rs. 1,00,000 ($1,975), however to drive one out of the showroom, there are more additional charges that customers will have pay like dealer charges and taxes. The one the road price will therefore mount up to Rs. 1,30,000. Customers will also have to pay extra for AC and other additional features.

The dealers however don't expect the Nano to be available before the mid-year. With bookings only starting in the second week of April, it could take some more time for allotments and deliveries.

With the relocation issue which shifted production location from West Bengal to Gujarat, large scale production is bound to take some more time. Meanwhile the production is to carried out from Tata Motors' existing car factories in Pune and Pantnagar.

However in the view of analysts only 50,000 cars will be available in the first year until the Gujarat unit with a capacity of 2,50,000 is all set to roll out the motor magic.