India`s Tata Motors accepts orders for world`s cheapest car
Indian car manufacturer Tata Motors began on Thursday accepting bookings for the purchase of its Nano model, the cheapest car in the world with a price tag of 100,000 rupees ($1,979).
The company said it will be accepting bookings for the Tato Nano until April 25 and believes there will be sufficient interest to keep production lines running at full strength.
The 3-meter-long Tata Nano, which does a maximum of 70 km/h (43 mph), was first showcased in January 2008, and was supposed to start coming off the production line last fall. However, a row with farmers over the purchase of a site for the production plant in eastern India`s Western Bengal delayed its launch.
The land dispute also means the company will only be able to produce some 50,000 vehicles until the main Nano factory in the western state of Gujarat opens next year. The company plans to hold a lottery to determine the first buyers.
The basic model lacks luxuries such as airbags, air conditioning and a radio. However, more upmarket versions will eventually be available, including the slightly bigger Nano Europa, due in 2011 and expected to cost around $4,000.
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