Tata Motors goes on Nano overdrive

Tata Motors, India's largest automaker, plans to sell 10,000 units of the Nano car a month in a year, a jump of more than 233 per cent.

Prakash M Telang, managing director (India operations), Tata Motors, said, "The festive demand has seen a very good uptick.

"We are quiet confident the monthly sales numbers of the Nano should be hitting 10,000 units much before 2012-end."

Average wholesale sales of the car have been 2,800-3,000 units a month recently.

The wholesale figure is the number of vehicles dispatched by the company to its dealers.

During the festive season, dealers of Tata Motors reported a robust pick-up in demand for the Nano.

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"Tata Motors hit 10,000 units in retail sales last month and about 9,000 in retail sales in September.

"This has helped in liquidating the stock at the dealer and company's end.

"There was a strong demand for the Nano during Diwali," said a city-based Tata Motors dealer.

Attractive financing options doled out by Tata Motors to Nano buyers at a time when financial institutions have increased automotive lending rates, helped India's largest automaker increase its retail sales of the ultra-compact car.

Tata Motors hopes improving marketing and sales initiatives, especially in the rural market, will help it achieve the target.

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A company spokesperson said, "Tata Motors has consistently said it is confident about sales of the Nano, as marketing and sales initiatives take root. We do not issue retail sales numbers, as per norms of the Indian industry, but suffice it to say that retails sales (of the Nano) have been strong."

The company is looking to launch the 2012 edition of the Nano, which will have improved interiors, in India by January.

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According to company dealers in Mumbai, the company preponed the launch of the new edition of Nano last month to benefit from the festive frenzy.

The 2012 edition of Nano is available in select markets without any price hike.

Tata Motors is also gearing up to launch a limited edition anniversary model of the car next year, which will complete three years in March. This model may have additional features such as aluminium alloy wheels.