India Automobile News

Tata Motors, the country's largest automobile manufacturer, will unveil its much-touted 'people's car', better known as the Rs one-lakh car, tommorow

The company said in a statement that while it would unveil the car on January 10 during the expo, the commercial launch would take place later in the year.

The launch would mark the realisation of a dream for Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata, who is looking forward to silence critics of the project, just as he did with the company's first passenger car Indica.

Tata had in the past said that the 'people's car' would be a gearless one with a rear engine and meet all safety as well as emission norms.

While the initial plan is to come out with a 660cc petrol engine, the company is also planning to come up with the diesel variant. However, Tata Motors is facing a pricing issue with input costs going up manifold since the inception of the project. Tata had earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show hinted that ultimately customers might have to pay a tad more than Rs one lakh for the car.

Besides, the company had to face political opposition for setting up its manufacturing plant at Singur in West Bengal, which ultimately began earlier this year.

source: Economictimes

All those waiting to have a look at the Tata Motors' Rs 1 lakh car or other new models that are set to hit the Indian roads should brace up for the ninth edition of the Auto Expo that opens on Friday.

The biennial event - India's answer to some of the top global auto shows like Tokyo Motor Show and Frankfurt Show - would be inaugurated on Thursday. From Friday, visitors would be permitted between 3 pm and 7 pm, while it will be business hours from 10am to 3pm.

Visitors can purchase tickets at Metro stations and at ITPO windows for Rs 100 each and business tickets can be bought for Rs 500. "There will be park-and-ride facility also available from specially earmarked sites around India Gate and also from Indira Gandhi Stadium. These would be free-of-cost and easily to go the venue through designated vehicles," Gurpal Singh of CII said.

As many as 1.5 million visitors are expected to visit the fair this time, he said, adding that 2,000 companies were participating at the show that ends on January 17. Singh said there would be no business hours on the weekends, though ticket prices on Saturday and Sunday would be Rs 150.

Many new cars would also be unveiled and these include from the stable of Suzuki, Honda and Fiat. While Suzuki would showcase its ‘A-Star' concept and ‘Splash' compact, Fiat will be displaying the ‘Grande Punto' compact that will also hit the Indian roads next year.

Czech carmaker Skoda will display the ‘Fabia' while Japanese car major Honda will also display its new compact ‘Jazz' that will be rolled out in India from its upcoming plant in Rajasthan. Other carmakers like GM, Mahindra and Mahindra, Volkswagon and Hyundai will also be displaying their cars.