January 10, 2008 6:39 AM PST
This is the deluxe model, though Tata didn't specify how it qualifies as such. The company emphasized that despite its size, the People's Car meets safety requirements. The car has an all-sheet-metal body, crumple zones, seat belts, and tubeless tires. Tailpipe emissions are within regulatory bounds, and the fuel-efficient Nano "has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today," the company says.
The cars will go on sale in India later this year. According to The Wall Street Journal, Tata will hold off on exports for several years.
Tata has aspirations at the high end of the auto industry as well as the bargain basement. Ford Motor confirmed last week that it is in talks to potentially sell its Jaguar and Land Rover lines to Tata.
Photo by Tata Motors
