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Indica has been designed, not adapted, for India, says Ratan Tata

Tata Indica, touted by Telco as the country's first indigenously-developed car, is all set to roll from the company's assembly line by the end of December and would hit the streets next year.

Launching the car at the newly-built facility at Telco Works in Pune today, Ratan Tata, head of the Tata group and chairman of Telco, said that the Indica would meet the needs of the Indian market.

''When we started the Indica project, we committed to develop a car that meets the needs of the Indian market -- a car designed for India rather than one adapted for India,'' he remarked.

The Tatas' dream car project took around 31 months to become a reality. Indica was conceptualised, designed and engineered in Pune at the Telco's Engineering Research Centre.

Indica is available in four variants and eight colours with a choice of diesel and petrol engines. The car complies with Euro 1 and India Year 2000 emission norms.

Finance for buying the car would be provided by Tata Finance and ANZ Grindlays Bank. Indica would be sold through a network of 51 dealers spread in 38 cities.

Tatas have a joint venture with Jardine International Motors for retailing the Telco range of passenger cars in India, including Indica.

Indica is the second car to be launched by Telco in 1998. The commercial vehicles major had launched earlier the Tata Safari model in the market.

UNI

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