The world's cheapest car, Nano is expected to hit roads from Sanand plant in Gujarat by end 2010, according to top officials of the company. Large scale construction activities for buildings and pre-engineering structures are going on at full swing at Sanad, near Ahmedabad.

Country's largest automobile company Tata Motors on Tuesday informed that it has entered into a tie-up with the Union Bank of India (UBI) for financing its range of passenger vehicles.

Under the arrangement, the lender will offer car loans up to 85 per cent of invoice, for tenure ranging up to five years, at a rate of 11-11.25 per cent.

The loan facility will be available at all branches of Union Bank of India and 329 sales touch-points of Tata Motors, company stated in a release.

Tata Motors, India's largest passenger automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturing company, has informed that it has joined hands with public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) for financing its entire range of passenger cars.

The latest tie-up will provide a single window for both cars as well as car loans and will make car buying easier for customers.

The lender offers car loans up to 90 per cent of invoice for tenure ranging up to seven years at a rate of 10.5 per cent to 11 per cent.

Voltas, part of the Tata group, has informed that its textile machinery division has entered into a partnership deal with Germany's Thies to sell and service Thies products in India.

Under the arrangement, Thies will supply products such as fabric dyeing machines, jiggers and bleaching plants in India.

According to an official statement, the partnership will use the market potential of processing segments, which offer unique opportunities for India to augment its share in the international textiles trade.

Tata Motors launched the Nano Europa, the European version of the Nano, on Tuesday at the Geneva Motor show before Nano's formal launch on March 23 in the domestic market.

Nano Europa supports 3-cylinder sporty aluminium MPFI engine and electric power steering, using all international safety standards and regulations. The car has been provided with advanced restraint systems, ABS, ESP, with high fuel efficiency and low CO2 emission.

After a delay of more than six months, Tata Motors has finally decided to launch the much-awaited cheapest family car 'Nano' on March 23 in India.

The Rs 1-lakh car, pegged as the world's cheapest car, will be on display at the company's dealerships from the first week of April. However, bookings for the 'people's car' will begin only in the second week of April.

The car was earlier scheduled to be launched in the first week of October last year, but due to violent protest by farmers led by Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee, Tata Motors was forced to quit from the state and relocate the plant to Sanand in Gujarat.