TATA NANO: The world’s cheapest ‘family’ car.

January 11, 2008 at 9:02 pm | In Current, bizarre, news |
Tags: , , , , , , ,

nano.jpg 

After weeks of anticipation, the TATA group finally unveiled the Rs 1 lakh ($2500) dream car at the Auto expo 2008. This car is all set to revolutionize the auto industry. This car is also serious competition to the two wheeler segment and the small car segment. This 1 lakh ‘prototype’ has been making news for some months now. Not many believed that a car this cheap can be made, but the TATAS proved everybody wrong. The media also went gaga over this car. The US media however, was a little sarcastic the reporters said:

“It can seat five people…if no one breathes,”

Funny ! But on a more serious note, I think this car will change the world. More families will be able to own a car and people will travel safer. Cars are much safer here..than 2 wheelers.

On the flip side, if this car becomes popular amongst the masses, it will add to the already chronic traffic problem on the roads. The roads here will get choked ! There are twice as many cars in India than families !! So, you can well imagine, what will happen when TATA NANO takes off in the Indian market !

Coming to the TATA NANO specifications now, they are pretty interesting…

Engine: A two cylinder 623 cc, 33 horsepower rear mounted, all aluminium, multi-point fuel injection petrol engine can power the car to top speeds of 105 kilometres per hour (65 miles per hour).
Fuel Efficiency: 20 kilometres per litre, or 50 miles per gallon is claimed.
Pollution: Exceeds Indian regulatory requirements and can meet strict Euro IV emission standards. In terms of overall pollutants, Tata says the car is better than two-wheelers manufactured in India currently.
Safety: Car exceeds current regulatory requirements with a strong passenger compartment, crumple zones, intrusion resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorage.
Initial Annual Production Target: 250,000 units to rise later to 350,000. PRICE: Basic model price 100,000 rupees (2,500 dollars) plus tax and transport costs, which will bring on the road price to at least 120,000 rupees. The price of two deluxe models that will include air-conditioning and other features to be announced later.
Nearest Domestic Car Rival: Maruti 800, part of Japanese-owned Suzuki Maruti stable whose base model sells for about 4,800 dollars — nearly double the price of the Nano.
Nearest International Rival: China’s Chery QQ which retails for 3,600 dollars.
Sales: Tata will focus on selling the car in India for the next two to three years, before eyeing Latin American and Southeast Asian markets.
Market: India’s car market is a huge draw because car penetration is just seven per 1,000 people, compared to 550 per 1,000 in such countries as Germany or 476 in France, according to the Society of Indian Automobiles.
Company Details: Tata Motors is India’s largest vehicle company with revenues of 7.2 billion dollars in 2006-2007. It is the leader in commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, and the second largest in passenger vehicles. There are over four million Tata vehicles on Indian roads.

My personal take:

I think the TATAS are doing a great job, and they have proven yet again…that impossible is the word in the dictionary of fools ! Another thing..I think TATA CUTE would be a more catchy name than NANO !

12 Comments »

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  1. GREAT.I AM WAITING FOR IT AND I WOULD BUY ONE FOR ME.BUT I AM NOT SURE WILL IT COME IN R.MACEDONIA.I’M SURE YOU’LL HAVE BUYERS BECAUSE OTHER CARS ARE SO EXPENSIVE.WE NEED JUST LIKE THIS CAR.
    GOOD LUCK WITH SELLING

    Comment by Bogdanka — January 12, 2008 #

  2. hmm….a good picture here, I have posted an article on this in my blog, do you read the Times Of India, the Mumbai edition?

    Comment by xtremer — January 13, 2008 #

  3. Lets hope the car does well..

    Comment by aboyfromindia — January 13, 2008 #

  4. Clearly, the TATA’s are very creative and clever folks..this is going to sell like scooters did in 70s and 80s. Btw, the very mention of scooters brings nostalgia…my dad would take me all around New delhi…life was good back then.

    Anyway, I think what would be lovely, is if they can tap into some desi research labs and come up with a TATA NANO HYBRID…maybe they are already working on it.

    On a related topic, in asmuchas I admire desi drivers and their stunts (I’m serious…if I drove a car in mumbai, I’d be dead in 20 seconds!), I think India really needs to invest in a driving program for kids in high school.

    But, all in all…this is a nice innovation…
    Here’s to desi comfort…and contribution to global warming.

    Comment by idaroga — January 13, 2008 #

  5. The “people’s car” is a wonderful example of India’s mid-20st Century mindset and its squandered chance at 21st Century development. My short essay on this, India Going Nowhere Fast, can be read at http://memestreamblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/india-going-nowhere-fast/.

    MBJ

    Comment by mbjesq — January 13, 2008 #

  6. The essay is nice..but sounds a little jealous. There are some good points you make,but some points are made due to lack of information.

    Comment by aboyfromindia — January 13, 2008 #

  7. http://mail2nagen.blogspot.com/2008/01/tatas-rs-1-lakh-car-nano.html

    Nagendra HK

    Comment by Nagendra HK — January 14, 2008 #

  8. I read a great article by Gwynn Dyer, a London based journalist, on the anti-pollution arguments being put forward against the Nano

    http://www.gwynnedyer.com/articles/Gwynne%20Dyer%20article_%20%20Tehran%20Times.txt

    The last paragraph says it all:

    “Clucking disapprovingly about mass car ownership in India or China
    misses the point entirely. At the moment there are only eleven private cars for every thousand Indians. There are 477 cars for every thousand Americans. By mid-century, there will have to be the same number of cars per thousand people for both Indians and Americans — and that number will have to be a lot lower than 477, unless somebody comes up with cars that emit no greenhouse gases at all. Otherwise, everybody loses.”

    Comment by Kiwi Indian — January 17, 2008 #

  9. [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSo, you can well imagine, what will happen when TATA NANO takes off in the Indian market ! Coming to the TATA NANO specifications now, they are pretty interesting… Engine: A two cylinder 623 cc, 33 horsepower rear mounted, all aluminium … [...]

    Pingback by » TATA NANO: The world’s cheapest ‘family’ car. — January 20, 2008 #

  10. Lets hope that the nano does not choke our roads.

    Comment by aboyfromindia — January 20, 2008 #

  11. I loved the look of this car (as the look of a car is what I usually search for!)….But where is it sold for $2500??…and I have never heard of the TATA group, from where is this company?

    Good luck with the sale :)

    Roseate,

    Comment by Roseate — January 20, 2008 #

  12. Hi Roseate..
    This car will be sold in India initially..then it might go international. The TATA Sons group is a multibillion dollar group in India who has recently taken over Jaguar and Land Rover..

    Comment by aboyfromindia — January 21, 2008 #

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