(January 5, 2010) India's Tata Motors may consider launching its ultra-cheap Nano car in the United States in three years, its chairman said today, following possible sales in Europe by the end of 2011.

"We also recognize there is a market (for the Nano) not only in developing countries, but possibly in the developed countries," Ratan Tata told reporters at the New Delhi auto show. "For the United States we need a car which has a larger engine and we need additional crash test modifications and we are in the process of doing it."

The United States is the world's largest auto market, but data this week should show China surpassed it with about 13 million vehicles sold this year.

The Nano, whose billing as the world's cheapest car gained it significant attention from across the globe, was showcased by Ratan Tata at the previous edition of the New Delhi auto show two years ago. Tata has said his company may produce hybrid versions of the model and that Italy's Fiat and Tata Motors plan to sell the Nano jointly in Latin America.