An array of attractive finance schemes are being offered. Even relatively small players in the car finance business like Saraswat Bank have jumped on to the bandwagon by offering loans for the booking amount. Saraswat Bank offers bookings on the Indica (petrol) at Rs 4,750 and Rs 7,200 for the Indica (diesel deluxe), while Sundaram Finance is offering bookings on the car at Rs 4,995 and Rs 6,995 for the Indica (diesel deluxe).

Tata Finance has designed booking schemes which will suit each customer's needs. The finance company is offering 100 per cent finance on the car at a 15.5 per cent rate of interest.

With Maruti Udyog having sparked off a price war in the small-car segment by reducing the prices of the 800, Zen and the Omni below that of the Indica, Telco has gone on an all-out marketing drive to ensure that the Indica is well accepted.

Maruti announced a cut in prices of the 800, Zen and the Omni by upto Rs 30,000 on the day the Indica was launched. Ind Auto also announced a reduction in prices of the Fiat Uno by upto Rs 1 lakh during the first week of January, making it much cheaper than the Indica.

With the Maharashtra state government having decided to waive sales tax on the Indica for the next 10 years, the price of the car could fall by nearly Rs 30,000 if the company decides to pass on the benefit to the consumer. This would make the Indica cheaper than the Maruti.

Executives at United Motors, one of the dealers for the Indica, have said that hundreds of enquiries have come in from individuals and corporates over the past week. Other dealers for the Indica in Mumbai are Concorde and Autoriders.