Here's the $2,500 Tata Nano, the Indian peoples car
The low-cost Indian "peoples car" has finally been shown in public for the first time at the New Delhi Auto Expo. Developed by Tata Motors to a target price of $2,500, the four seater has a 624cc gasoline engine mounted under the rear seat and is called the Nano. There has been a lot concern that meeting the price target would require Tata to skimp on emission controls and safety. The manufacturer claims that the 33hp engine meets current Euro IV emissions standards and is cleaner than most of the scooters running around on Indian streets right now. They also claim that the car has passed frontal and side impact tests although no mention is currently made of what standard they are testing too.
The Nano will be available in three trim levels with the base $2,500 getting no air conditioning. The two upper levels do get AC although it's not clear if that 33hp engine will be able to move the car and provide chilled air at the same time. The minimalist interior includes non-reclining seating for four, a four speed manual transmission, an a dashboard with speedometer, fuel gauge and oil light. Tata claims the Nano can achieve 54 mpg (U.S.) presumably without the A/C. It should be available in the second half of 2008 with a sales target of 500,000 units annually.
[Source: Rediff, thanks to Sayyad for the tip]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mark 4:34PM (1/29/2008)
Quote:
14. This. Is. Fantastic. News.
Seriously, this is up there with One Laptop Per Child.
By putting a new, efficient, CLEAN car into the reach of used car buyers, in a single stroke Tata has just ensured that tens, and maybe hundreds of thousands of inefficient dirty old clunkers will be taken off Indian roads each year and recycled into something better. And these will also be taking thousands of incredibly dirty 2-stroke scooters and bikes off the road as well.
Expect air quality to measurably improve in Indian cities (and the cities of any other developing country they end up being exported to) thanks entirely to these cars.
I wish them every success.
End Quote...
I agree 100%. Here is the URL of my site to prove it...
http://www.trickmytata.com
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goodforbrains 10:54PM (2/06/2008)
This makes for a very nice coffin. You can bury atleast four people in it after it has been completely smooshed from hitting anything over 100lbs. Can you imagine what a 50 mph crash into a sacred cow would do to this thing? No thanks. I hear the air bag system is made from hefty trash bags. This is such a bad idea. Shame on you Tata. Lots of people will die because they will think they're safe.
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jacquie 12:13AM (2/07/2008)
This is all very good, but as usual, if Americans want this car they have to pay 4 times it's "advertised"cost. One of the news programs carried a piece about this vehicle not long ago and the price for Americans is over $10,000!!!!! Oh, our greedy, money hungry. let's screw the public and get rich off the poor business ethic!
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joel 7:48AM (2/10/2008)
i want one with a small block chevy v8
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i2455 10:19AM (2/10/2008)
My first car was a 1958 VW had 36 horse power,spedo,oil light,no fuel gage...just a lever that you flipped when you ran out of gas which put you in reserve.The interior had less room than the Tata,top speed on a good day was 65-68...never found a hill it wouldn't climb. Mileage was 36-40 mpg.which was good when american cars were getting 8-15 mpg.Cost of car new was $1395 east coast price.Tha Tata, when compared. is the better car...no gastank in front etc.
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Pot 11:46AM (2/10/2008)
Looks like a new twist on the older VW Beetle. It also resembles an older car but I don't recall it's name. Think it was French built back in the 50's or 60's. It had a three wheel configuration (two in the front) and the whole front end opened to the side, you turned backwards, then sat down in it. This thing seems to be a motorcycle with doors/windows. Yeah, get one with a/c and see what it does. Can anyone say Chevy VEGA??? I had one and overall liked it except it lacked power. It had a 4 cylinder with an automatic trans but I'd have to turn the a/c off to pull away from a stop light. Seriously! or be run over. No wonder people started putting v8's in them. For gas mileage I drive a 1995 Kia Sportage 4 x 4 and a 5 speed. Love it and get 25mpg WITH the a/c running and I'm VERY pleased with it.
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EDDY 7:36PM (2/15/2008)
WHEN GAS GETS UP TO TEN BUCKS A GALLON PEOPLE WILL DRIVE MORE SAFELY BECAUSE YOU CAN BET THEY WILL BE GOING A LOT SLOWER..
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rick 1:06PM (2/10/2008)
This is the perfect alternative to a 125 pound person driving a three ton SUV to the supermarket to get a loaf of bread or a quart of milk, and burning up a gallon of gasoline in the process. It certainly isn't built for comfort, the American highway or as a status symbol, but for the occasional trip, five miles or less, it's going to save a lot of people a lot of gas.
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Ravi 10:58AM (2/18/2009)
Read more on Tata Nano at
http://www.cardekho.com/carmodels/Tata/Tata_Nano
And get details on tata nano at
http://blog.cardekho.com/2009/01/tata-nano.html
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Margo 7:55PM (3/09/2009)
I love the little cute car. I want one to use in the senior complex that I live in..I can use it to go and visit my friends, go to the lanudry, or to the many places here in my complex. I would not take it out of the complex in the street. To small I think it would not be safe. Maybe in India were you can not travel to fast because of so many people it would be ok. I know it would be GREAT for a senior like me who has trouble walking to get around in my housing complex. I just love it.
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clifton 5:47PM (3/25/2009)
with todays acconomy this would be great for familys that cant afford high price cars and gas or even insurance i hope the price stays low when it comes to the u.s
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Steven D 11:57PM (4/01/2009)
Let it ride more power to India. I hope it works out good for them. At least there doing something constructive over there then bombing military installations like AL QUEDA
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Tatananolx 12:47PM (4/06/2009)
After the long waiting, It's now available to book from 9th April.
:)
Get More Details at
www.tatananodlx.com | www.tatananolx.com
| www.tatananocx.com
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Jerry Hawkins of Tulsa 9:10PM (6/11/2009)
Nothing makes sense anymore...!
For example: America's auto industry is going down the tubes because of what..?? Well, it could be that the very companys that SELL Gasoline and Petroleum products are hammering the prices up and up for each and every gallon of gas. And Oil too..?
Then the Car manufacturers in America continue to design, build, manufacture little else but Poor Gasoline consumtion autos. ( 20 -30 miles per gallon ain't gona get it )
The prices of the average America Car by the way, ain't cheap...to beign with!
So in my view, the industry that USES all those petroleum products ....are "Pulling the Carpet Out From Under" the Auto Manufacturers..!
Go figure....!
IF people would simply just stop ...and think about what they're doing in Detroit or whereever....??
In other words...to be totally germaine here,......
You go out and shop for a decent Car....Ok?
You try and Budget the prices and overall exspenditures involved in purchasing ONE car for example....Ok?
The cost of the New Car .....add on the State and Federal Taxes....Wow...!
Now that's a Biggie in of it's self...Ok?
Then you have to by law...Insure this car. Full coverage...?? Well it's New so guess what...?? What are your choices...??
Ok?
Then you get some sort of Warranty.....( as long as you make sure you abide by all the rules of said warranty.) OK?
IF you have to get said car worked on in a garage later on....it's aprox. $70.00 per hour for Labor charges....and then of course....various Parts Costs to go with all that...Ok?
Now then, the SMART Car......is now out on the market. Too small...??? Only if you are driving next to a Hummer or F-350 Ford Pickup...even say a Dodge Ram Pickup...for that matter....Ok?
Wonder what it Feels like now that I think of it....IF you were sitting in a Smart Car at an intersection next to an 18 Wheeler....praying that he can still see YOU in his rear view mirrors....! But don't get me wrong here, The Smart Car is sincerely a step in the right direction for the Masses.
In closing, now India has yet another idea in small cars....the "Nano"....Ok?
Again, this is a car that truely answers many many famlies needs ....Affordable Transportation...!
Ok?
Already...well, ya see it's like this: The Nano .....Will not meet America's enviromental standards and other issues pertaining to America's views on what is or isn't allowed on the streets. Ok?
Seems like Nobody Wins ....Ok?
So WHAT does America Do....................?? THAT I am waiting to see....!
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Scott Smith 10:26AM (1/10/2008)
A bigger picture analysis of this story is here:
http://www.changeist.com/changeism/2008/1/7/china-india-and-pragmatic-technology-design.html
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nom de plum 10:37AM (1/10/2008)
Here is the official Tata site for the Nano: http://www.tatapeoplescar.com/tatamotors/
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kert 10:33AM (1/10/2008)
This thing needs an electric motor and batteries.
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kert 10:34AM (1/10/2008)
This thing needs an electric motor and batteries.
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kert 10:34AM (1/10/2008)
Now fix this thing with electric motor and batteries.
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Michael 11:11AM (1/10/2008)
It seems to be nothing more than a go cart with a full body.
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