Tata Nano: The World’s Cheapest Car Tata Motors took the covers off the world’s cheapest car — the Nano. Over the past year, Tata has been building hype for a car that would cost a mere 100,000 rupees (roughly $2,500) and bring automotive transportation to the mainstream Indian population. It has been nicknamed the “People’s Car.†Over the course of the New Delhi Auto Expo, which began this week, anticipation had grown to fever pitch. With the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey†playing, Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors drove the small white bubble car onto Tata’s show stage, where it joined two others.Tata NanoThe Tata Nano could sell for around $2,500. “They are not concept cars, they are not prototypes,†Mr. Tata announced when he got out of the car. “They are the production cars that will roll out of the Singur plant later this year.†The four-door Nano is a little over 10 feet long and nearly 5 feet wide. It is powered by a 623cc two-cylinder engine at the back of the car. With 33 horsepower, the Nano is capable of 65 miles an hour. Its four small wheels are at the absolute corners of the car to improve handling. There is a small trunk, big enough for a duffel bag. “Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions,†Mr. Tata added. “We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.†The base price for the Nano will be 120,000 rupees, including road tax and delivery. Higher level models will cost more and come with air-conditioning. Sun visors and radios are extra. The nearest priced competitor is the Maruti 800, which costs roughly twice as much as the Nano. In comparing the Nano to the Maruti 800, Mr. Tata said, “It is 8 percent smaller — bumper to bumper — and has 21 percent larger seating capacity than Maruti 800.†The Hindustan Times reports reactions from a couple of Tata’s competitors, Maruti and Hyundai: Jagdish Khattar, a former head of Maruti 800 manufacturer Maruti Udyog Ltd., says it’s too early to say whether the Nano will overtake the original. “It’s a good product but it’s still too early to say whether it will overtake the 800 because it caters to a totally new market segment,†he said while watching a live telecast of Tata’s press conference after unveiling of the Nano. But clearly, at least one other manufacturer was worried.An official of Hyundai Motors, which unveiled an LPG version of its Santro Thursday, was more circumspect. “We definitely see it as impacting our sales,†he said in halting English, preferring to maintain anonymity. Anand Mahindra, managing director for Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors’ primary competitor, said before the unveiling, “I think it’s a moment of history and I’m delighted an Indian company is leading the way.†The Nano will go on sale in India later this year with an initial production run of 250,000 a year. Tata says it will offer the Nano in other emerging markets in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa within four years.
tata nano is the face of INDIA...the world's cheapest car can you beleive just for 2500$...this is really amazing...all the reviews show that nano is a very good car
I'm not sure I would call the Nano "the face of India" as Tata Motors makes several better looking and better equipped models. Nevertheless, the Nano is a game changer, possibly proving that an ultra-cheap car can be built for the masses, replacing motorcycles and scooters in the process. It isn't fair to compare the Tata Nano to most other budget cars out there because this model is built for the Indian market. The Nano Europa is planned for Europe, but it'll include all the required safety features as well as basic amenities that passengers want. It will also retail for approximately $6200.
Rumours are that Tata are in such dire financial straits that this enterprise might not even last that long. And even if it does - it won't save the company
Many people say that without airbags is like going without brakes, but when you consider countries like india or vietname where the manly transport are small bikes and skooters it all starts to make sense. Its safe to transprot 4 people on the Nano than on a Scooter, and with price tag at 2000$ it will not be "cheap" for those people but more affordable than other cars that they will cant ever buy. And if you go back a couple of decades the cars we used where pretty much as basic as the nano, no power stearing and no air bags.
Yep! Well what do you expect? $2500 only, but I would rather get a used car. I'm in the USA so it is not available here anyways if I wanted it.
That's a cool little car but I wonder how safe it is to drive. I looks like a smaller version of my American smart car
Do you expect what amount of safety in two wheelers? This is for replacement of two wheelers in indian conditions.
Ya you are right, the face of India. Cheaply made means low quality. Just look at this car. It may be cheap, but in a year when things start falling off you will have to buy a new car or pay for repairs. That adds up. Plus, these cars are made for short, around-town trips. If you live in America, do not bother to get one. Just look at those tires. They are rolling on what looks to be 9 or 10 inch rims. The entire car is just ugly as sin. There are much better options out there for cheap than this low quality hunk of junk. Oh and by the way, the reason it doesnt have airbags is because if you are going fast enough to need them, you WILL NOT SURVIVE anyway because this car is so small it will be crushed like a soda can.
For me, I would love to get one just for the novelty of it. It is just the price of a high end note book. Tata did a fine job engineering this. Being a product of Tata, I doubt that it is as bad as what others say. Though without an airbag it may well be a problem for anyone else besides India to get hold of one. It may not be easy to pass the safety regulations. But I would say it is a good step ahead, given that third world countries now have an alternative of safer transport (compared to motorbikes).