‘Now I will drive to wherever my children say’

The farmer from Manesar is the first owner of world’s cheapest car Tata Nano in the National Capital Region. Excerpts from an interview.

The farmer, Satish Kumar, from Manesar is the first owner of world’s cheapest car Tata Nano in the National Capital Region. Excerpts from an interview.

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There were so many options available in the small car space. Why did you choose the Nano?
I always wanted to own a car for a long time and with the family expanding, the need has only grown. The Nano was the only car that fit my budget and it is a dream come true for me, as I am one of the first owners of the car.

How much did you pay for the car and did you opt for a loan?
I opted for the top variant of the car and paid Rs 1.85 lakh in cash.

You could have opted for a Maruti 800 by adding just about Rs 10,000 to this. Why the Nano?
Yes, I am aware of that but I believe the Nano gives better fuel efficiency and the company claims it will have one of the lowest maintenance costs in the industry. These were the factors that made me opt for
a Nano.

Do you own a vehicle right now?
I have a 1995 make Bajaj Chetak. I always wanted to upgrade to a car.

What do you do for a living and how much do you earn annually?
I am a farmer and have 5 acres of land near Manesar. I grow crops like wheat, barley, maize and mustard. I earn around Rs 50,000 per annum.

How many family members do you have and are they happy with the product?
There are five members including my two children and they fit in perfectly in the car.

Lastly, where do you intend to go now for your first drive?
First to the nearest temple of course and then wherever my children ask me to. Maybe a drive on the Jaipur highway.