War of cars: Maruti takes on Tata

New Delhi: The motown war is out in the open now.

After Ratan Tata's insinuation in the wake of the Singur troubles that he suspected hands of competitors in the controversy, Maruti has shot back, daring the Tatas to name the competitor.

"I don't know which competitor he is talking about," Maruti Udyog Managing Director and CEO Jagdish Khattar told journalists in New Delhi on Wednesday. "Since he has the knowledge, he should tell it," Khattar said.

The Tatas are planning to launch its ambitious Rs 1,00,000 car from the proposed car plant in Singur. While Ratan Tata didn't specifically name anybody, his reference to "suspected hands of competitors" obviously stung Maruti Udyog, which today claims the largest stake on the Indian auto market.

There has been speculation in the market that the arrival of the 'people's car' would affect Maruti's erstwhile flagship model M800 -- currently India's cheapest car at nearly Rs 2,00,000. Khattar, however, refuted that such a thing was likely to happen.

"In the event of the Rs 100,000 car coming, it will only help M800, as it would narrow the gap with two-wheelers," he said.