Nano Develops Burning Desire

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Eleven Nanos were puttering down India’s National Highway 8 on their way to the dealer (don’t they have car haulers there?) when one of them burst into flames, reports India’s Deccan Chronicle. These cases of spontaneous Nano combustion seem to pile up.

Burning Nanos are a tradition in India. Just a few weeks ago, a Nano turned into a conflagration on its way from the showroom. Again, the fire developed in the rear, where the Nano’s engine sits, and again, the driver escaped the inferno unharmed.

Last year several Nanos caught fire. Tata said faulty ignition switches were the culprit, and the supplier had been changed. A Tata Motors spokesman said to Reuters that this time, they “are sure that it is not a design flaw. We are looking into it.”

Be it as it may, the Nano lives up to its image as a red-hot seller.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

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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  • Uncle Mellow Uncle Mellow on Apr 08, 2010

    In England a "hot car" means something entirely different.

  • Russycle Russycle on Apr 08, 2010

    My mom's Ford Tempo spontaneously combusted, a year or two after she sold it to my brother's in-laws. No casualties besides the car, and it was no great loss. The best part was my bro's business partner is a volunteer fireman, and he has a scanner going most of the time. Report came in about a car burning up in someone's driveway, then his partner said "Hey, isn't that your father-in-law's address?"

  • Stewart Dean Stewart Dean on Apr 09, 2010

    And I saw an engulfed Thunderbird once...had to laugh at the irony... From Wikip: Across many North America indigenous cultures, the Thunderbird carries many of the same characteristics. It is described as a large bird, capable of creating storms and thundering while it flies. Clouds are pulled together by its wingbeats, the sound of thunder made by its wings clapping, sheet lightning the light flashing from its eyes when it blinks, and individual lightning bolts made by the glowing snakes that it carries around with it. In masks, it is depicted as many-colored, with two curling horns, and, often, teeth within its beak. The Native Americans believed that the giant Thunderbird could shoot lightning from its eyes.

  • Avinash Machado Avinash Machado on Apr 09, 2010

    Some cars set your heart on fire. This one just sets itself on fire.

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