Tata Nano body will be built by Caparo Group, car coming to Europe in 2012
Two updates on the Tata Nano, aka the world's cheapest car.
First, the Indian minicar will have its body structure built by the Caparo Group at a plant in Singur that is next to the manufacturing plant that will build the Nano. Caparo will make 60 percent of the assemblies, and Tata will take care of the rest. The contract was finalized Friday and production will start in six months, an awfully quick turnaround.
Second, Reuters is reporting that the Nano will be coming to European market in four years. That model will be an updated version that "will meet the Euro 5 emission regulations and the crash standards in Europe," Girish Wagh, the head of Tata's compact car business to the German magazine Focus. One incredible upgrade: reducing gasoline usage from the current five liters per 100 km (47 mpg U.S.) to three (78 mpg).
Gallery: Tata Nano: The People's Car
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[Source: Hindu.com, Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kardax 2:14PM (2/11/2008)
The quick turnaround probably has everything to do with the sheer simplicity and basicness of the car.
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rgseidl 2:23PM (2/11/2008)
Tata had better have a follow-on project to deliver a Euro 6 engine by 2014 or its foray into the European market will be short-lived.
Also, I doubt they'll be able to get the car to meet EU crash tests, European consumer tastes, a sub-EUR 6000 price tag and 3L/100km on gasoline all at the same time. Going from 5 to 3 liters per 100km is a 40% improvement, which even if possible will not come cheap.
A 3L/100km diesel version should be doable, but it'll cost more, especially once Euro 6 kicks in. Besides, for a pure city runabout, I'd prefer gasoline or ANG as the block is lighter and will get up to temperature faster.
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meme 2:40PM (2/11/2008)
"The quick turnaround probably has everything to do with the sheer simplicity and basicness of the car."
Which you lose when you try and meet first-world safety and environmental regulations.
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Kardax 4:02PM (2/11/2008)
rgseidl and meme: I agree. The result will be that the European version will be much more expensive. But it'll still probably be the cheapest car in Europe.
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