First Tata Nano delivered to customer in Mumbai
Tato Nano – Click above for high-res image gallery
The first customer to get a Tata Nano has taken delivery of the world's cheapest car today. Tata Motors delivered the car to Mr. Ashok Raghunath Vichare of Mumbai who paid just 100,000 rupees ($2,053 U.S.) for the car. The Nano went on sale earlier this year and has been a source of endless discussion since it was announced in early 2008. While incredibly cheap, other numbers for the tiny car are also impressive: the Automotive Research Association of India rated the Nano at 56 mpg U.S. and it produces emissions of just 101 grams of CO2 per km.
The Indian market is only the first step for the Nano. A Euro-spec model recently passed European crash tests and the car is still scheduled to come to the U.S. at some point.
UPDATE: see pics of the handover here.
Gallery: Tata Nano launch close-ups
[Source: Reuters]
PRESS RELEASE
Tata Motors delivers first Tata Nano in the country in Mumbai
Mumbai, July 17, 2009: Tata Motors is pleased to announce that Mr. Ashok Raghunath Vichare of Mumbai has become the first customer in India of the Tata Nano. Mr. Vichare received his choice, the Tata Nano LX (Lunar Silver), at the hands of the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Mr. Ratan N. Tata, at the company's dealership, Concorde Motors, today.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tata said, "I hope the Tata Nano will bring motoring pleasure to those who will be buying their first car as also those who currently own cars but want a modern, contemporary, emission-friendly city car."
Along with Mr. Vichare, two other customers, Mr. Ashish Balakrishnan (Tata Nano LX – Sunshine Yellow) and Kores India Limited (Tata Nano LX – Lunar Silver), also received their cars today.
As planned, Tata Motors has commenced deliveries of the Tata Nano this month to different towns and cities of the country. Despatches to dealerships have begun from the Pantnagar plant, where the car is being produced, in accordance with schedules informed to customers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike 1:00PM (7/17/2009)
To me this is perhaps the most fascinating bit of car industry stuff to watch play out in recent memory.
Even if the costs double or triple for the car in the states and europe to account for increased safety and emissions - that would still be a game changer as far as cheap new car pricing.
It's true it's a very diminutive vehicle compared to even the smallest and cheapest cars here now.
But it will be fascinating to see which way that wind blows...
I hope they get it here soon.
I am on the edge of my seat over here.
- mike
Reply
ronEbear 2:35PM (7/17/2009)
Unrelated and out of context given that the first car is being delivered.
Nano Nano
Nano Nano
Hey Hey Hey
Gooood-byee!
Reply
Peter 5:57PM (7/17/2009)
Does anyone think that this car is a truly truly dreadful idea?
It will put hundreds, probably thousands of oil burners into the hands of those that could not afford one. The result.. more fossil fuel burning transportation, more CO2 more poison in a country that is already badly underregulated and the population under protected. Where is the regulation? Where is the sense in this? There is nothing here to celebrate, its a truly dreadful development. The car is not green, and has no business being discussed here. The only thing this car is, is cheap.
Reply
coolboy 7:49PM (7/17/2009)
"Nano Nano
Nano Nano
Hey Hey Hey
Gooood-byee!"
Why?
"Does anyone think that this car is a truly truly dreadful idea?
It will put hundreds, probably thousands of oil burners into the hands of those that could not afford one. The result.. more fossil fuel burning transportation, more CO2 more poison in a country that is already badly underregulated and the population under protected. Where is the regulation? Where is the sense in this? There is nothing here to celebrate, its a truly dreadful development. The car is not green, and has no business being discussed here. The only thing this car is, is cheap."
Well, it is very possible that there is a couple of folks out there (here) that find that this one is a huge truly truly dreadful idea...
The fact thart It will put hundreds, probably thousands of oil burners into the hands of those that could not afford one is the personal point of view of some persons, that IMHO should not forget that probably the bad idea came out when some Mr Ford found out how to provide cars in an affordable way.
Who we think we are to say that we could have done what we liked and now the others can not just because of this or that?
It is the same story when the Japanese say that the Chinese must listening them and accept and adopt their business way and their "help" for teaching them and also to use their "technology".
IMHO: arrogance!
be awere: soon or later our arrogance will cost too much to all of us (you)
We can point some examples: GM fall, problems with the Muslims, and so on...
(ok I now that when I spoke about GM, that is another bit in the fire, but I`m not American, so I do not see GM fall as a consequence of Toyota building reliable cars, but just, bad policy, like this exemple: buying Saab and stick their badge in Subarus... what the hell you Yankees!
were did you learn that, in the playground?
Do you think that Daimler could pick a Chrysler and stick Mercedes-Benz on it and put it in the market?)
Let`s be reasonable. This car will mean that many families will be able to travel in sefety inside a car, in place of being in a "kind" of motorcicle or whatever.
If you are so worried about fuel an C02 emissions, I think you shoul battle to change the minds of you Americans, to stop driving and use bicicles or walking.
Them, Mc Donalds & Donuts will be free from complains for helping you being fat...
IMHO
Chris M 9:12PM (7/18/2009)
Well, Peter, if you really wanted to nitpick, you could claim that ALL cars are "a dreadful idea" and "not green", as they all take energy and materials to make, and takes energy to run. So, did you give up on cars, and walk or bicycle everywhere? If not, you are not only guilty of hypocracy, but also an even more grotesque sort of elitism, the notion that poor people don't deserve cars as they should be reserved for the well-off elite like you.
What makes the Nano "green" compared to other cars is the very high fuel economy and the reduced amount of materials needed to make it. Sure, it isn't perfect, the emissions might be higher than they should be given the fuel economy, but it is a step in the right direction.