MORE PICS & Video – Tata Nano US$2.5K (RM10 K) India World Cheapest Compact Safety Car; 4-Door 33bhp 2 cylinder 624cc Fuel Efficient Injection engine

Update: MIC Assemblyman Shot Dead - see details at Bottom

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MORE PICS & Video – Tata Nano US$2.5K (RM10 K) India World Cheapest Compact Safety Car; 4-Door, comfortable, all-weather car, high on fuel efficiency & low on emissions; 33bhp 2 cyl 624cc Fuel Efficienty Injection engine; Available Later 2008
ABOVE & BELOW: The luxury version with additional comforts like air-cond


MORE Pics coming & loading
If this car reaches the shores of Malaysia, it will be the cheapest and most affordable car for all Malaysians yearning to own a car away from the sun and rain. It will give Perodua a run for their Kancil and its fortunes. Proton will also be severely affected and there will be more traffic jams clogging up the towns, kampongs and highways everywhere
ABOVE & BELOW: The car is available in many colors
India's Tata unveils world's cheapest car

January 10, 2008, 4.58 pm (Singapore time)

NEW DELHI - India's Tata Group unveiled on Thursday a US$2,500 car billed as the world's cheapest amid predictions the no-frills compact could revolutionise how the nation of 1.1 billion people travels. The sparsely appointed Nano targets increasingly affluent Indians trading upfrom a motorcycle to a car amid an economic boom. The launch of the Tata Nano was a landmark in the history of transportation, like the first powered flight by the Wright brothers or the first lunar landing, said 70-year-old tycoon Ratan Tata, head of the giant conglomerate. Tata, likened by India's media to US automobile pioneer Henry Ford, also dismissed fears the Nano - so-called to appear both high-tech and small - would herald more congestion and pollution. He said he wanted to make 'a safe, affordable and all-weather transport – a people's car, designed to meet all safety standards and emissions laws and accessible to all'.

ABOVE & BELOW & BELOW: The basic layout of the interior dashboard and seats

The four-door, five-seater car is due to hit the roads later this year costing just 100,000 rupees (US2,500), excluding tax, after Tata Group cut costs back to the bone. The sparsely appointed Nano targets increasingly affluent Indians trading up from a motorcycle to a car amid an economic boom. The theme from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, '2001: A Space Odyssey', played as Tata unveiled the Nano to loud applause at the annual Delhi car show. He said it was 'a car that most people said could not be manufactured at that price' but that his firm had stuck to its 100,000-rupee target price, adding VAT would be extra. The Nano has a small, rear-mounted 33bhp, 624cc engine but no air conditioning, electric windows or power steering in the basic model, although two deluxe versions will be available. Tata argued the new car would be better and safer than most motorcycles on India's roads. 'Let me assure you and also assure our critics the car we have designed will meet all the current safety requirements ... and will have a lower pollution level than even a two-wheeler being manufactured in India today,' Tata said.

Courier driver Daniel Abraham said the car appealed to him as a transport option for his family. 'If I can get a loan from my boss, I might buy the car so my family and I could travel. I can't take my mother on my motorcycle any more - she's too old,' he said. Environmentalists fear the Nano will jam up India's already clogged roads even more and add to choking pollution if it proves a winner. 'With more cars you have more emissions and that adds to global warming -what we need is public transport,' said Souparno Banerjee, an official of Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment. – AFP
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Tata Motors unveils the People's Car

A comfortable, safe, all-weather car, high on fuel efficiency & low on emissions

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the Tata 'NANO', the People's Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People's Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People's Car will be launched in India later in 2008. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, "I observed families riding on two-wheelers - the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors' engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People's Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People's Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility."

Stylish, comfortable
The People's Car, designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room. It can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy. Yet with a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars.
When launched, the car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual's preferences.

Fuel-efficient engine
The People's Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.

Meets all safety requirements
The People's Car's safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.

Environment-friendly
The People's Car's tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.

(For more information: www.tatapeoplescar.com )
About Tata Motors

Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of US $ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina.

The company already distributes Fiat branded cars in India. Tata Motors' international footprint includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pick-up vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the U.K., and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.

= == =Watch the Video Clip (1 .24 min) Launch

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January 10, 2008 17:29 PM

Malaysia Keen On India-made Akash Missile - Antony
By P. Vijian

ABOVE: Indian Defence Minister AK Anthony and BELOW inspecting a Guard of Honor durin a recent visit to Malaysia

NEW DELHI, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has shown interest to procure the India-made Akash anti-air missile which was successfully tested last month, says Defence Minister of India A.K. Antony. Top Malaysian military brass expressed interest in acquiring the indigenous missile, said Antony who returned here on Tuesday after a three-day visit to Malaysia. "Malaysians got to hear about the 100 per cent successful trials and broached the subject of its acquisition during the talks," the "Indian Express" quoted Antony as saying.

Giving an assurance that India would look into Malaysia's request in a "positive light", Antony said further talks would be held on the matter. Indian scientists successfully conducted the first test of the medium-range surface-to-surface missile last month, after taking almost 20 years to develop the Akash missile system. The 27km-range missile was developed for the Indian army and airforce to protect the country's strategic landmarks such as airports and harbours. Weighing 700kgs and three-and-a-half-metres long, Akash missiles can thwart hostile aircraft, sub-sonic cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

It took about 1,000 scientists and 300 public and private companies to develop the latest missile system. Malaysia had also conveyed its interest to acquire the jointly produced Indo-Russian made Brahmos supersonic cruise missile. On that, Antony said: "New Delhi has to seek Moscow's clearance as it is a joint venture. But for Akash, we have no such bindings," he was quoted as saying

= == = == = =UPDATE; MIC Assemblyman Shot Dead

Friday January 11, 2008; MYT 4:19:24 PM
Johor MIC assemblyman shot dead

Datuk Krishnasamy Shiman

JOHOR BARU: Tenggaroh Assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy was shot dead in the lift at the state MIC headquarters in Jalan Seget. Krishnasamy, who is state deputy MIC chief, was shot by a gunman just as he was about to attend a meeting at about 2.30pm. Police have cordoned off the area around the MIC building and forensics team has been sent to the crime scene.

ABOVE: The the state MIC headquarters in Jalan Seget and BELOW: The MIC members were in a stste of shock. This is the 2nd time an Assemblyman was shot - seven years ago the Kok Lunas Dr Joe Fernandes was also killed by a lone gunman
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ABOVE: He was gunned downed by two shots at the lift entrance and BELOW: The body was taken away

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ABOVE & BELOW: Instead of waiting for the Ambulance the body was taken away by an MPV

Eye-witnesses said they heard people screaming that a man had been shot and were shocked to find the assemblyman victim lying in a pool of blood.

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January 11, 2008 18:45 PM
State Assemblyman Found Shot Dead In MIC Building

ABOVE: Samy Vellu issued a statement condemning the killing and BELOW: DPM Najib also express sadness over the wanton killing of the assembly man

JOHOR BAHARU, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- Tenggaroh State Assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy was found shot dead inside a lift at the MIC building in Jalan Segget this afternoon. The 61-year-old politician was found slumped in a pool of blood about 2.10pm by MIC officials. It is understood that earlier, Krishnasamy, who was also MIC state liaison deputy chairman, was headed towards the second floor of the building to attend a liaison meeting. Johor police deputy chief, Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Sharif said a special unit was set up to investigate the murder. He appealed to the public to let the police probe the killing and not to speculate on its motive.
R. Vithiya Mohan (ABOVE, recalling her gruesome find in the lift), the Johor Puteri MIC chief, had found the body in the lift. No weapon was found near the body. According to a witness, a man was seen leaving the place hurriedly on a motorcycle. Krishnasamy is the second MIC state assemblyman to have been shot dead. In November 2000, Lunas state assemblyman Dr Joe Fernandez, 54, was shot by a pillion rider on a motorcycle when he stopped at a traffic junction in Bukit Mertajam. Krishnasamy, who is also a member of the MIC national central committee, became the state assemblyman for Tenggaroh in the 2004 general election. He was also the MIC Labis division chief. Taman Datuk Chellem MIC branch head S. Arumugam said before Krishnasamy entered the MIC building, he (Arumugam) had lunch with him at a restaurant in Jalan Trus, about one km away, together with three MIC divisional heads.

"We just chatted...Datuk (Krishnasamy) had nasi campur," he said. After lunch, Krishnasamy excused himself as he wanted to attend a meeting at the MIC building and left in another car, he said. Arumugam said upon reaching a car park outside the MIC building, he heard two women crying in the building. Vithiya, meanwhile, said she wanted to take a lift to go to the 5th floor but was shocked to find that a body was slumped against the wall in the lift. Police said they were investigating whether Krishnasamy carried a gun himself. His body was taken to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for a post-mortem.

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MORE PICS & Video – Krishnasamy MIC Tenggaroh assemblyman Gunned down in Lift in MIC HQ; Vithiya Mohan, MIC Puteri found body at about 2.10pm 2^nd MIC Assemblyman Killed in Similar Manner.