Tata eyes No. 1 slot with Rs 1—lakh car
The Financial Express — March 3, 2005

Asserting that Tata Motors was “close” to developing its ambitious Rs 1 lakh car, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has expressed confidence that the “peoples’ car” could provide it help in becoming the number one car maker in India. Asked whether such a low-price car could help it surpass Maruti Udyog to become the No 1 car maker, Mr Tata told PTI in an interview at Geneva Motor Show: “If we are able to provide a low-price car which is successful, yes, our volumes would certainly exceed those that exist today.” “The Rs 1 lakh car became a challenge and I accept it as a challenge because it’s a good challenge to have.

I think we are close to reaching it,” Mr Tata said. Refusing to specify the exact timeframe for the launch of the much-awaited car, he said: “we are almost complete in terms of structure, in terms of the materials to be used. So we know, we are now just putting all of this together to just concretise what we will have.” He said the designing and styling of the car would be done now. “When we will design the car, we will display the prototype of the car and let the public see what we have.” Mr Tata said the carmaker would do as much as it can to attract as many numbers as possible.