Tata Motors may launch its first Nano on May Day to commemorate the golden jubilee of Gujarat which was born on 1st May 1960.
This is regarded as a emblematic gesture towards the government that bailed out the project from its problems in West Bengal.
In a diversion from the state’s industrial policy, Gujarat welcomed the Tata Motors and offered it incentives , including prime land which was an agriculture and animal husbandry farm. Other incentives include a soft loan at 0.1% rate of interest, repayable over 20 years.
With test runs completed, the company will produce 250 vehicles per day from next month. But company officials declined to comment on the launch date.
Currently 4,000 units of the world’s cheapest car are being produced in Pantnagar in Uttarkhand. But from next month, the small car manufacture will move to Rs 2,000-crore Sanand plant. It comprises the relocation expense of around Rs 700 crore.
About 40 auto parts suppliers have been told to commence units as early as possible. More than 20 of them are in later stages of building at vendors’ park close to the main plant.
Once fully functioning, the Sanand plant can manufacture 250,000 Nano cars per year, with likely expansion to raise the number to 500,000 cars per year.