However coming from a truck-maker, the newborn did have its share of sceptics. With many questioning the swadeshi label that the Indica enjoyed. Especially, since Telco had design and development assistance from IDEA of Italy and Le Moteur Moderne of France for developing the petrol engine. But given India's fascination for the west, a whiff of which has permeated even to politics, can anyone really afford to point fingers. But more importantly, a soft launch on Monday seems to have taken care of the cynics with most praising thebaby's temperament sky high.

Interestingly, the father (Telco) has chosen and rightly so--the cautious approach for the new sibling. Selecting a production target of a mere 10,000 vehicles for the three months to March, 1999, is clearly a proactive measure indicating that the parent is keen not to repeat its earlier mistakes when a mid-year inventory pile-up had eroded operating margins.

But perhaps, the key to success for Telco could well lie in the price tag that adorns the vehicle. More so, since both the latest pretenders to MUL's crown failed to live up to the price billing, which is where the Indica's Indian pedigree should help it steal a march over its rivals. All of which could culminate in insomnia for the government controlled MUL.