The little big star is here!

“Hmm,now let’s see,is it a fibre board?” “It’s surprisingly big from the inside…” “Oye,the interiors are just like Tata’s others models…” “It’s spacious…” “…smart look…” “…looks like a mini Chevrolet Spark.” “So,the engine’s at the back…” “…seems like my daughter will like it…” Complete strangers broke into non-stop chatters as they inspected the car and scanned it inside out.

“It’s shockingly good!” That was how an automobile show on a television channel rated the car,and the common response of Chandigarh residents toward the newest product from the Tata stable was a similar one. Given the size,specification and the cost,the Nano succeeded to impress the crowd. “It’s a sweet little car,and I thought,why not go in for it,” said Ramona Howell,retired principal of a government college who had dropped in with her husband to fill an application form. “We have got one (form),let’s see! We have never owned a car. I guess,the price suits us,” she said.

While a modest shopkeeper from Manimajra could be seen enthusiastically giving sound byte to an eager TV reporter,college boys discussed the features of the car using all technical jargons,and families simply parked their scooters and made a dash for the forms.

Tata will be producing one lakh Nanos in the first lot and distribute them across India. Chandigarh has two centres — Hind Motors and Joshi Auto Zone. For the first time,application forms to book a car have come with a price tag: Rs 300.

“It’s the people’s car and we have stepped in to make it available to every Indian through the vast network of the State Bank of India,” said Ajay Swaroop,Chief General Manager,SBI.

The bank is accepting forms at select 97 branches in major cities. “The forms can be submitted between April 9 and 25,” he added.

Nano comes in three models and the booking amount is Rs 95,000 for the basic standard model,Rs 1,20,000 for Nano CX and Rs 1,40,000 for Nano LX.

SBI will be financing 100 per cent of the booking amount. “You will have to pay Rs 2,999 as upfront fee for a loan of Rs 95,000,Rs 3,499 for a loan of Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 3,999 for Rs 1.4 lakh,” he adds.

Well,they may be asking for too much at one go,and it is not exactly a Rs 1-lakh car,but going by the crowd response,it is sure going to take the country by storm.