Tata Nano: The Third World is Not Enough
Indian car maker Tata has announced plans to export its Nano city car to Europe; albeit in a different form, at a different price, in the future, eventually. Quoted in Germany's Focus Online, Tata's Head Head of Small Car Projects auditioned for the Hindi version of "Promises, promises." "We won't export the current model [unleashed in India this autumn]," Girish Wagh admitted. "But in five years time, we will have developed the second-generation Nano which will be good enough for Europe. The Nano will then meet the Euro 5 emission regulations as well as all crash standards." At the same time, Tata's cheerleader promised to improve on the Nano's fuel consumption, from 47 to 78 mpg. Methinks the Indian automakers' plans for the Nano are a tad… ambitious. The current car's Unique Selling Point is price: $2,500. Add in the safety, comfort and convenience features that the average European economy car driver currently enjoys, throw in the eye-watering sales tax that the average European economy car driver forks over to his government, and Tata's Nano will be bumping-up against the VW Up!, Toyota IQ and other highly accomplished machines, sold from a large number of established dealerships. Good luck with that.
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Drifter, Katie, we had an internal mis-communication -- thanks for your input: now changed. Orian: Yes, I've heard it also described as an amoeba on roller skate wheels. But I think it's great news for India and other developing countries in making the masses mobile, just like the Model T was for the U.S. and the VW was for Germany. None were great lookers, but they sure did the job.
I'm sure the car is quite beautiful when you're plodding through rain and mud on your daily walk to work/school/market/etc.
Tata Nano Launch Event. Talks about pricing and safety requirements. It's in three parts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3brUB8IZhAo
I saw a picture of a new VW concept micro car. It looked like a Frankenstein version of the Nano. Yes it's not stylish, but as was pointed out it beats walking (or a 5 hp scooter) by a long shot. I don't know how price sensitive the market is in India, but how much more would it have cost to use real bearings, drive shaft, and full size (14") wheels, so that the Nano could have a top speed of 65 or 70 mph instead of 40 or 45 mph? Based on the hp output from european cars of the 50's, the Nano has sufficient hp to achieve 60+ mph (eventually), just not the construction materials to survive it.