MUMBAI: With a lot of hoopla created by worldover media on the trendsetter Rs 1 lakh car from Tata, The Indian company has decided to unveil the much-awaited People's Car at the Auto Expo to be held in January 2008, although the commercial launch will take place later by the middle of the year.
The officials added that Tata Motors and Fiat India Automobile Private Limited will participate jointly in the 9 th Auto Expo and will display the vehicles in a pavilion spread over 5,200 square metres.Revealing details about the Rs 1 lakh car, non-executive director on the Tata Motors board RA Mashelkar said, "It's an eco-friendly car with a 25 km-per-litre mileage on petrol and meets every international standard and specification, including Euro-4 norms. Acceleration wise, it's the same as a Maruti 800." He was recounting his recent ride on the prototype at Tata Motors' Pune plant.
"It's a tool for inclusive growth," Mr Mashelkar said in Kolkata on Tuesday. He was speaking here on 'Resurgence of Innovative India: The Phenomenon and the Consequences,' organised jointly by East India Pharmaceutical Works and The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.Mr Mashelkar also revealed how the small car concept first struck Ratan Tata, who's now in the race to acquire two iconic British brands - Jaguar and Land Rover. "You know how 'Ratan' (Ratan Tata) thought about this small car. He talked to me on several things. One day, he was going on the road and saw a family of four getting soaked in the rain. That was when he decided to create a small car for all," he said."Just a month ago, I was at the Tata Motors' factory in Pune, talking to their engineers and their fantastic team there. It was there that I had the privilege of sitting in that small car - the Rs 1-lakh car that they plan to roll out at Singur. It is incredible," said Mr Mashelkar. "I sat in that car by the way, and it was amazing," he said.
"I am a six footer and it's spacious both in the front and in the rear. In terms of acceleration, it is equivalent to a Maruti 800 and has an incredible design finished by indigenous Tata Motors' engineers," Mr Mashelkar added.Talking on the potential of economics of this car, the top-notch scientist said: "It will create a paradigm shift in low-cost transport and the whole world is looking forward to a car that efficiently runs 25 km on a litre of petrol and offers international specifications.These kind of fuel-efficient cars will be in demand as pollution is on the rise, climates are changing and fossil fuels are running out. People are looking at a new global eco-car and I have a feeling that this can be the new eco-car not only in the country but elsewhere - in other countries. I feel a sense of pride that it will be manufactured in India."
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