Tata Motors will sell the new Nano in Europe

"You can have a version that sells for two or three times the price of the base car," he said. "I don't see this, over time, being any less profitable than an ordinary car."

The basic Nano will be priced to Indian dealers at 100,000 rupees (1,730 euros) plus 12.5 percent value-added tax and transportation charges, Tata said.

Tata expects to sell the Nano in India only for the first two years or more before starting exports. Top export priorities are Africa, Latin America and southeast Asia.

But the Nano was developed with Europe and other developed markets in mind. Tata said the car will be equipped with bigger engines including diesels and more advanced features. The base 33hp 624cc two-cylinder engine gives the Nano a top speed of 104kph to 105kph.

The Nano meets India's current frontal-crash safety test and emissions standards. But it already meets Euro 4 emissions standards. And it was designed to meet the "offset-frontal and side-impact tests international markets require," Tata added.

Asked at a press conference after today's Nano launch, he carefully avoided saying that Fiat would help Tata launch the Nano in Europe, but said that Tata and Fiat are helping each other in several markets.

Other Tata executives are more direct about international ambitions for the Nano.
"When we go to Europe, we will conform to all existing regulations," said Girish Wagh, head of the 500-member Nano product development team, at the press conference.

Responding to a question, he added" "Yes, I said when."