Tata Motors Singur plant has swung into action now. The first batch of 25 Nano, called the ‘Pilot Batch’ within Tata, will be ready by september 15 - a fortnight before the Rs 1 lakh car is scheduled to hit the Indian roads. The company has set an August 15 deadline for the key equipment suppliers and vendors - Capro Group, JBM Auto, Rucha Engineering and Rasandik Engineering who will supply the core sheet metal to be used on the Nano.

Tata Motors have also asked the remaining vendors who have set up their units at the adjacent Singur vendor park, to rush in their supplies within the first week of September. The company is very strict about the deadline has has told its vendor to supply on time even if their units have not been setup by the first week of september in which case they will have to supply the components from their other units.

At present, Caparo, JBM Auto, Rucha Engineering and Rasandik Engineering are setting up plants in Singur. When contacted, Rucha Engineering managing director Umesh Dashrathi said: “Sheet metal is an important part of a car required for its outer body structure. We have been asked by Tata Motors to be ready with our supplies by mid-August.”

The trial run of the Pilot batch will kick off shortly after september 15.