Tata Unveils $2.500 Nano 'People's Car

10 January, 2008 07:00:00

Font size:

Tata unveiled a $2,500 Nano 'people's car' billed as the world's cheapest amid predictions the no-frills compact could revolutionize how the nation of 1.1 billion people travels. This is a model designed to appeal to Indian families who currently get around on a motorcycle or three wheeler.

Ratan Tata, 70, the company's chairman, displayed the Nano at the ninth Delhi Auto Expo today. Tata Group chairman: "I observed families riding on two-wheelers - the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family.

The no-frills four-door 33hp car seats up to five passengers and is powered by an all-aluminum 624cc, two-cylinder, multi point fuel_injection gasoline engine and a continuously variable transmission. Tata said this is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine has been used in a car with a single balancer shaft.

It uses 5 liters per 100 kilometers (about 50mpg) and meets local crash test and emissions guidelines. The four-seater Nano has a top speed of 75 miles an hour and it is also designed to pass Euro 4 emission standards.

The Nano is said to exceed all current Indian safety regulatory requirements though these are far short of norms in developed markets such as the US and western Europe. It has an all sheet-metal body with strong passenger compartment and basic safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety. Local reports said the car has also been designed to pass international side offset and side crash tests.

It is 8% than the Maruti Suzuki 800 but has 21% more passenger space.

Tata claims it will be one of the greenest cars available and will improve safety on Indian roads by taking drivers off dangerous scooters and putting them in a vehicle with a roof and four doors. The company's chairman, Ratan Tata, has said the car will be the least polluting car on the Indian roads and meet necessary safety standards.

The diesel version of Nano will soon follow

Several versions of the car will be released and margins will be spread over the versions. “By and large we have always been a diesel company and I assure that we will have a diesel version that will follow, if not the first variant soon there after.” said Mr Tata.

The company will also offer more expensive versions with features such as air conditioning and will start sales later this year, he said.

Add to: Add to your del.icio.us