The first customer has taken delivery of one of the world’s smallest and cheapest mass-produced cars.

Ashok Raghunath Vichare of Mumbai received the keys for his Tata Nano LX from Tata chairman Ratan Tata and performed a ceremonial blessing before driving off in his new car.

Mr Tata, whose company bought Jaguar Land Rover last year, said: “I hope the Tata Nano will bring motoring pleasure to those who will be buying their first car as also those who currently own cars but want a modern, contemporary, emission-friendly city car.”

Tata will be hoping Mr Vichare is the first of many to invest in the Nano after the first raft of vehicles off the production line in Pantnagar plant were shipped to dealerships across India.

The car, which can run up to 65 miles per gallon, is only available on the sub-continent but there are plans to market a version of the car in Europe and the US. The four-door car costs around £1,400.