In 2008, a big event happened in India’s automotive industry history. It started when Narendra Modi, who was the leader of Gujarat at the time, sent a short message to Ratan Tata. This message led to the Tata Nano project moving from West Bengal to Gujarat. This change happened because there were strong protests in West Bengal, led by Mamata Banerjee and her group, the Trinamool Congress. They were against taking land for the Nano factory in Singur.
- October 3, 2008: Tata Motors said it was leaving West Bengal at a news conference in Kolkata.
- SMS Sent: Modi sent a short text message with just the word “Welcome” to Tata while talking to reporters.
- Quick Transition: Just four days later, Tata Motors announced it would build a new factory in Sanand, Gujarat.
The new plant in Sanand was constructed with an investment of ₹2,000 crore. Modi highlighted that several countries were keen to assist with the Tata Nano project, but the Gujarat government made sure it stayed in India. He commended his administration’s effectiveness, comparing it to business standards.
Production Achievement
The first Tata Nano car was produced in June 2010. Ratan Tata thanked the Gujarat government for its support. He mentioned that Gujarat provided a calm and supportive atmosphere for their work, saying, “This isn’t just Tata’s project; it’s our project.”
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