<p>"I said that after (launching small-car) Nano, it will be a good time to step down...I still have a deadline for my retirement. I do have the responsibility to have a successor and both these things will take place," he told reporters here.<br /><br />Tata, who had earlier said that the successor could be from outside India, had declared his intention to step down after the launch of world's cheapest car 'Nano'.<br />Nano made its commercial debut last year.<br /><br />There have been speculation from time to time on who will succeed Tata at the USD 71-billion group that makes nearly everything from salt to steel to luxury cars.<br />Tata, who turned 72 last month, will stay in office till 2012.<br /><br />The Tata group has 98 operating companies and 357,000 employees.</p>
<p>"I said that after (launching small-car) Nano, it will be a good time to step down...I still have a deadline for my retirement. I do have the responsibility to have a successor and both these things will take place," he told reporters here.<br /><br />Tata, who had earlier said that the successor could be from outside India, had declared his intention to step down after the launch of world's cheapest car 'Nano'.<br />Nano made its commercial debut last year.<br /><br />There have been speculation from time to time on who will succeed Tata at the USD 71-billion group that makes nearly everything from salt to steel to luxury cars.<br />Tata, who turned 72 last month, will stay in office till 2012.<br /><br />The Tata group has 98 operating companies and 357,000 employees.</p>