Nano launch in October: Ravi Kant
Business Standard — February 20, 2008

The rollout of Tata Motors' Nano, the Rs 1 lakh car, from the Singur factory will coincide with the Durga Puja in October, said Ravi Kant, managing director, Tata Motors.

Briefing the media after an almost three-hour tour of the site to review the progress, Kant said trial production would commence in June-July and regular production will follow after two months. "Commercial production, the real thing, will come some time in October - around Durga puja time," he said.

Kant reiterated that the timeline was being maintained and said, "We have always maintained that we will launch the vehicle in the second half of the next financial year. We have maintained the timeline, and we are maintaining the same today."

Kant also pointed out that were lots of challenges, and Tata Motors, along with Shapoorji Pallonji which is constructing the mother plant, and the West Bengal government were working to put an action plan together to ensure that production was not hampered.

"The equipment is now beginning to come and we will start putting up the equipment. Weld shop, press shop, paint shop, assembly shop, engine shop are all priority areas. Plus, the service areas are all being worked out, and we do hope that things go on barring very unforeseen circumstances like the rains we had," said Kant.

Tata Motors showcased the Nano on January 10 at the auto show in New Delhi, and the company plans to produce 2.5 lakh units of Nano from Singur in the first phase.