Tata Motors presses ahead for small car launch in 2008

Mumbai: The Tata Group today said it was determined to roll out small cars from its Singur plant in West Bengal in 2008 despite hurdles.

R K Krishna Kumar, director, Tata Sons said, "We are determined to roll out our Rs one lakh car in 2008 as planned."

Praising the supportive efforts of the West Bengal government, Kumar said the issue had assumed a political overtone and "We are caught in the crossfire."

At a rally at Nalikul near Singur yesterday, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had said that no civilised government can tolerate the violence being unleashed by the Opposition forces there to stop the work.

Kumar said the opposition Trinamool Congress as well as the local people have also gradually started realising the importance of the project, which is good for the state as well as the country.

Tatas plan to invest Rs1,000 crore in the Singur plant spread over 1,000 acres of land.