Mumbai, July 17 - A gleaming lunar silver-coloured Nano was handed over to a proud owner here Friday to mark the commercial rollout of the jellybean-shaped small car, which has been drawing global attention since the prototype was unveiled last year.

Ratan Naval Tata, the chairman of the $62.5-billion Tata group who had promised to deliver what he has been calling the 'people's car' at just Rs.100,000 ($2,500) at factory gates, himself handed over the car keys to Ashok Vichare, a class I customs officer.

Tata also gave away the keys of the second, sunshine yellow, Nano to HDFC Bank employee Ashish Balakrishnan, while the third, a lunar silver, went to a representative of Kores India, which manufactures carbon paper and typing sheets.

'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,' said a beaming Tata.

Accepting the car keys from Tata, Vichare expressed his intention to drive down straight to the famous Siddhi Vinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesh, and frequented by celebrities and commoners alike.

Accompanied by his wife, two children and mother, Vichare (59) drove off to the temple, just a stone's throw from Concorde Motors, the Tata's company outlet at Prabhadevi.