Tata Nano will most likely roll out of assembly on December 28 - Ratan Tata’s birthday, just as the ‘Indica ‘ was launched a decade ago when he turned 61. The Nano will currently be bulit in Tata's sattellite plants, so expect only a few numbers of the base model to be sold initially. However, Tatas insist that they will try and squeeze in the higher-end variants of the Nano in their existing assembly line.
Sources say that an Automatic Transmission Variant ( CVT Gearbox unit) is likely to be launched by June/July 2009, at an ex-showroom price of around Rs 1.3 lakh. A diesel-engined variant will be launched by 2010, and an eco-friendly, lithium-ion battery powered electric Nano may be out in the market by 2011. We think the Nano is bound to become the easiest thing to buy, maintain and drive, on four wheels!