Tata hands over first three Nano cars to customers

A gleaming lunar silver-coloured Nano was handed over to a proud owner here on Friday to mark the commercial rollout of the

Ratan Tata presents the key of first Nano car to its owner in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

jellybean-shaped small car Nano, which has been drawing global attention since the prototype was unveiled last year.

Chairman of the Tata group, Ratan Tata, who had promised to deliver what he has been calling the ‘people's car’ at just Rs100,000 at factory gates, himself handed over the car keys to Ashok Vichare, Mumbaikar.

He also gave away the keys of the second, sunshine yellow Nano to Ashish Balakrishnan, while the third went to the Indian arm of Corus India -- the Anglo-Dutch steel maker that was acquired by the Tatas two years ago.

"There are three things in life which one cherishes -- to own a house, buy a car and start a family. For me, the second dream is coming through," Balakrishnan said. "I now hope I can now settle down with a family soon."

Vichare chose to drive the car straight to the Siddhi Vinayak Mandir, a temple dedicated to the elephant god, which is popular among celebrities and the average residents alike.