MUMBAI (AFP) - - India's Tata Motors on Monday launched the world's cheapest car, the Nano, hoping to revolutionise travel for millions and buck a slump in auto sales caused by the global economic crisis.
Company boss Ratan Tata said the no-frills vehicle, slated to cost just 100,000 rupees (2,000 dollars) for the basic model, will get India's middle-class urban population off motorcycles and into safer, affordable cars.
"I think we are at the gates of offering a new form of transport to the people of India and later, I hope, other markets elsewhere in the world," he said, describing the launch as a "milestone."
"The present economic situation makes it somewhat... more attractive to the buying public," he told reporters in Mumbai.
The wraps were taken off three Nanos -- dubbed "The People's Car" -- at a glitzy, open-air ceremony at a south Mumbai sports ground.
Tata confirmed that the basic model would be 100,000 rupees direct from the factory, not including tax and transportation. The cheapest showroom price is 112,735 rupees.
Potential owners of the car -- which is just over three metres (10 feet) long and has a top speed of 105 kilometres (65 miles) per hour -- can apply between April 9 and 25, Tata managing director Ravi Kant said.
A ballot will then select 100,000 people to be the first to get the keys to the vehicle and deliveries will start in early July 2009, he added.
Even affluent Indians are eyeing up the Nano , which has a two-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission but no air conditioning, electric windows or power steering.
Versions with air conditioning and power steering will be available, costing up to 170,335 rupees for a deluxe model straight from the factory floor, or 185,375 from a Mumbai showroom.
Shares in Tata Motors on India's 30-share Sensex index jumped eight percent in early trade but finally closed 2.8 percent up on profit-taking.
Car dealers say they have been flooded with queries about the Nano, whose debut was delayed after violent protests over the acquisition of farmland to build the plant, forcing Tata Motors to shift from West Bengal state.
But the new plant in Gujarat in western India will not be ready until late this year or early 2010, Tata said, meaning production must come from existing factories, reducing output and increasing waiting times for deliveries.
Kant said 250,000 to 500,000 cars could be produced from the Gujarat plant from next year but admitted some customers may have to wait more than 12 months in the meantime to take possession of their Nano.
Tata, though, said it was the right decision to push ahead with Monday's launch of the 20-billion-rupee project.
The Nano's arrival comes at a tough time for India's top vehicle maker, hit by the economic slowdown at home and abroad as it tries to absorb the British luxury marques Jaguar and Land
Rover that it bought last year for 2.3 billion dollars.
Tata is hoping the Nano will also be a hit overseas in the long term.
Earlier this month, the firm unveiled a European Nano sporting airbags and leather trim that will hit the market by 2011 but be costlier than in India due to the extra features.
A US version is also on the drawing board but requires redesigning to meet American safety standards.
Environmentalists, however, fear the Nano will accelerate congestion on India's already crowded, pot-holed roads and add to choking pollution.
"Every car that goes on the road is going to use road space. We're only adding to congestion," said Rajendra Pachauri, head of the UN's climate panel, which won the 2007 Nobel Prize.
Tata countered by saying that the Nano would be the least polluting car in India
Princess UK, Princess United State Of America, Princess United State Of America, Princess Car, Princess Cars, Princess USA, Princess USA
Popular Posts
-
TAHU MAKAN JEEEEE....ADAKAH IA HALALLLLL ? erkk...assalamualaikumm..seperti kamu semua sedia maklum bahawa ezza adalah spesis makhluk yang s...
-
~Valentine's Day~ Ops so so sorry,aku mmg x pernah sambut sejak 2006 lagi,kerana tarikh itu adalah tarikh yg paling menyedihkan dlm hidu...
-
Imam Syafie merupakan seorang ulama yang cukup banyak memberi sumbangan terhadap menggubal dan memperjelas hukum hakam dalam Al Qur...
-
HOlla Bloggers, Selepas part1 dan part2 yang dikeluarkan pada December tahun lepas, After Tea With Robot (ATWR) RETURNED with Transfo...
-
Princess UK, Princess United State Of America, Princess United State Of America, Princess Car, Princess Cars, Princess USA, Princess USA ...
-
Pada mlm New Year yg lalu,aku bersama beberapa org sahabat buat "LAST PLAN" utk buat bbq di Penang...Asalnya nak buat kat tepi pan...
-
klu ad event mesti ada plan klu ad plan slalu brjalan lancar event tu tp kadang2 plan tak ikut plan knape tak ikut pelan? mayb tak cukup men...
-
Ertinya: Daripada Ali bin Abi Thalib r.a. Rasulullah saw. Bersabda: " Apabila umat ku telah membuat lima belas perkara, maka bala pasti...
-
Dah kenyang mkn,si Angga bawak kami jln2 lagi....Kali nie kami ke Cihampelas Walk ....Tempatnya biasa saja mcm kat KL,tempat anak2 muda lepa...
-
Assalamualaikum n aLoHa :) Sob3....busy sungguh rasa hidup aliaa ni, tp itulah kan,semua org akan menghadapi benda ni, skarang ni,x sempat n...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Imam Syafie merupakan seorang ulama yang cukup banyak memberi sumbangan terhadap menggubal dan memperjelas hukum hakam dalam Al Qur...
-
TAHU MAKAN JEEEEE....ADAKAH IA HALALLLLL ? erkk...assalamualaikumm..seperti kamu semua sedia maklum bahawa ezza adalah spesis makhluk yang s...
-
~Valentine's Day~ Ops so so sorry,aku mmg x pernah sambut sejak 2006 lagi,kerana tarikh itu adalah tarikh yg paling menyedihkan dlm hidu...
-
Smlmkan aku cuti....Kebetulan pula aku & mama kena pi Sg Petani sbb nak kena beli brg2 pengantin....X per yg tue nanti aku citerkan kemu...
-
Skg nie mcm2 jenis kad jemputan yg ada dipasaran...Ada yg wangi,ada yg beriben dan mcm2 lagi lah...Aku tgk pun naik pening... Contoh kad 1 C...
-
Assalamualaikum & Aloha!! Malam nie Aliaa nak bercerita tentang nikmatnya bersama bidadari syurga , bidadari syurga adalah ciptaan Allah...
-
Pada mlm New Year yg lalu,aku bersama beberapa org sahabat buat "LAST PLAN" utk buat bbq di Penang...Asalnya nak buat kat tepi pan...
-
Lokasi pertama kami ialah Gurney Plaza ...Tujuan utama ke sana adalah nak pegi ke sinilah: | | | | | V Tempat peberet akulah....Nak cari han...
-
Assalamualaikum n Aloha!! Aliaa sangat suka baca cite ni,jadi Aliaa rase nak share dengan korang n korang pun perlu tau,especially bagi oran...
-
HOlla Bloggers Jack Black , Angelina Jolie dan Jackie Chan cerita apa lagi yang boleh menggabungkan ketiga-tiga mereka? Po joins forces wi...
No comments:
Post a Comment