Tata Nano a success at Auto Expo

It is finally here. Tata Motors has rolled out the cheapest car as promised. Ratan Tata unveiled the Rs 1 lakh Nano as India celebrated the arrival of the common man’s car at the Auto Expo venue.

Tata drove the Nano up the launch platform and, amid cheers, announced that the car will sport the price tag of Rs 1 lakh.

Nano can seat four people, comes with a 33 brake horsepower and two-cylinder engine in the rear. Nano, which will hit the market with the promised Rs I lakh tag, will be sans air conditioning, power steering, antilock brakes or electric windows. However, it is said that the company plans to roll out a couple of deluxe models also, which will offer air conditioning.

All of 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, the Nano sports an all-sheet metal body and safety features like crumple zones and intrusion-resistant doors. The car will be ready for the market later in 2008.

At the launch, Ratan Tata declared that Tata Motors aims to produce 500,000 small cars only. Talking from an eco point of view, the Nano is said to be designed to meet all safety standards and emissions laws. The car is expected to get mileage of about 20 km a litre. It is also said that the company also plans to launch a diesel variant.

Even as the Tatas rolled out the Nano, many other majors were busy readying their cheaper vehicles in a bid to bring more buyers to their showrooms. Among the players are Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Bajaj Auto.