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DC ready with his own small car

The Mumbai-based automobile designer Dilip Chhabria is all set to take on the combined might of India's small-car manufacturers with his indigenously developed three-seater scheduled to be unveiled at the forthcoming Auto Expo 2000.

With a build-up cost of Rs 80,000 per unit, the car is likely to sport a price tag of Rs 1.6 lakh, Chhabria of DC Designs told UNI in Bombay.

''It would be half the length of Maruti 800 and two-feet shorter than the Mercedes Smart,'' Chhabria said. He, however, is not keen on commercially producing the car himself.

''The design would be put up for sale...I would invite manufacturers to examine its viability and buy the design,'' he said and revealed that negotiations in this regard would be initiated at the Auto Expo.

The car would be powered by a two-cylinder engine and a four-speed gearbox.

''The idea was to introduce a base-level car for a person who wants to upgrade from a two-wheeler and still wants a car with drop-dead good looks and aesthetics,'' Chhabria added.

DC Designs is a renowned name in the arena of redesigning of automobiles.

The vehicle has been built at DC Design's Silvasa unit, which has a capacity to produce 20,000 cars and bike modules.

Chhabria is also moving towards corporatising his set-up by shedding equity in favour of foreign partners. Fifteen per cent stake has already been divested in favour of one partner and another five per cent stake would be sold off in a month.

''This is a part of our plans to expand our reach and go national,'' he said. Chhabria also intends to set up redesigning centres in Delhi, Bangalore, Baroda, Calcutta, Ludhiana, Chennai and Kerala.

The market for redesigned cars is very vast in the national capital and is still almost untapped, he said. ''The volumes are there, what is required is quality products. To start with, we will be aiming for just four per cent of the total car sales.''

The unique selling proposition of DC Designs, he said, would be individuality.

UNI

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