Yet Another NanoSwatter. By GM And SAIC
Let’s get small: The new 50:50 joint venture between China’s SAIC and GM may plan to launch an entry-level low-cost car for the Indian market, say’s India’s Wheels Unplugged.
The mini made by monsters would cost between $3,500-4,000, and could also be unleashed upon Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and even possibly back to China.
India is the world’s second fastest-growing auto market, and is dominated by small, affordable cars. SAIC and GM will use GM’s two local manufacturing facilities (at Talegaon near Pune and Halol near Baroda) and a power-train facility, and GM India’s nationwide distribution network.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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I sure agree that building the Nano in india will greatly help develop its economy. I am a big fan of the Nano as a replacement of these scooters and 3-cycles that have entire families hanging from them like a bunch of grapes. I question their export potential in the US and European markets, and there should be so much demand for a $2-4,000 car in India and other developing economies that they will be busy making them by the million for those markets. But the Nano has to be reliable, and I am still not convinced that all the cost-cutting has left a durable car and not a flimsy toy that will fail at the slightest tough driving situation. They already had to re-work the nano to deal with the Steering catching fire recently. And the production is still very tiny.
The entire first half of my post is of course invalid when you edit and delete the majority of the content in your posts. Calling the smart "dumb" and asserting that people who drive one are in turn as well, was enough reasons for me to hit reply. I was simply countering your arguments with the tone you set in that post. But to remain on topic, and to reiterate my point. You base the possible failure of the Nano on its reliability and durability. That point can be considered moot on some levels. Testing has been done, and just like any new model there will be issues. But the Indian car market at the bottom of the barrel is not full of direct competition and it would take alot for the Nano to become shunned in the marketplace.
4 too many lugnuts and double the windshield wipers necessary? FAIL.
Sorry, you can't pull one over on me. Nothing made by GM can be called a "something-something Swatter". Besides, it still remains to be seen if GM will survive. You know, as a "going concern."