Only petrol cars from Singur now: Tata

The Tatas' Rs 100,000 car will initially be available only with petrol engines and will have the capacity to accommodate five persons, contrary to expectations, Tata Motors Managing Director Ravi Kant said on Tuesday.

"Initially the proposed small car will be available only in petrol engines and later on we may think of introducing diesel versions depending upon the market situation, Kant said.

The car is well designed and the car's space is only slightly less than the Tata Indica, he said. Asserting that the company is committed to keep to the 2008 deadline to roll out the small car, Kant said it is certainly not a modification of autorickshaws but a state-of-the-art

car with a swanky look.

As per the company's plans, the Tatas intend to manufacture 2.5 lakh cars initially, which would be stepped up to one million cars in 3-4 years for which demand would have to be generated.

Asked if he expected more automakers to enter the fray, he said the company was not afraid of competition. "It will be totally an indigenous car," he said, adding the car would be at first manufactured for the domestic market and exports would be considered at a later stage.