REPORT: Tata increases Nano production to keep up with strong demand
Tata Nano - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to Autocar in the UK, Tata has a success story on its hands in the form of the diminutive Nano microcar, which is currently for sale in India and is the least expensive new automobile in the world. Says Rajiv Dube, head of Tata's passenger car business:
For those keeping track of such things, the production increase should allow Tata to build 3,000 Nanos per month. You may recall that demand was so high when the little car first went on sale that only half of the 2,000 customers that applied for a Nano were awarded a car with the help of a lottery system.In the last three months, we have been averaging about 2,500 Nano [sales] per month. We are gearing up for a higher number and we are ramping up our production capacity by 20 percent from this month.
Previous reports indicate that the Indian automaker has its sights set on the European and American markets, possibly by 2011. Company head Ratan Tata has said that hybrids, diesels and all-electric models may be in the offing.
Gallery: Tata Nano
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 9:41PM (10/14/2009)
This is newsworthy?
36,000 per year doesnt sound like much in a country with a billion people
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Sasparilla 10:15PM (10/14/2009)
This is a really small number. Its good to work the kinks out of the machine, but these aren't industry size automobile production numbers. Just for reference, Toyota was going to produce 450,000 Prius's this year and probably alot more Corolla's and Camry's than that.
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WilliamInPDX 10:39PM (10/14/2009)
Call me a liberal commie freak, but I LOVE the Nano. The visual pillaging of the classic minimalist car (model T Ford, 2cv, Beetle, blah blah blah) in the design sense is cool, but when a company actually practices minimalism it is remarkable.
The best minimal cars are iconic in appearance because their design was one where form followed function, and they are warmly remembered because they performed and sold so well that almost everyone has a fond experience with them.
Time will tell if the Nano has the ability, reliability and sheer sales volume to join the classics, but I wanna l see Nano succeed. The fact that it might mean more R & D for Jaguar and Land Rover at the opposite end of the vehicular spectrum is the sweet sweet frosting!
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employeeJeffreyWells 12:11AM (10/15/2009)
What happened to the air powered car that Tato was working on with MDI. Has Tato switched to electric. I believe air power still has feasability at least as a generator/range extender.
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Mark Kiernan 7:23AM (10/15/2009)
I think there is a problem with air compression, as you need a high pressure tank and it is dangerous if damaged.
Woodenbee 9:52AM (10/15/2009)
its unfortunate you say that, because its not true, and it only furthers the cause of big oil.
PeterM 1:59AM (10/15/2009)
IMHO, the nano is a disaster for the environment. The last thing India needs is another dinosaur burner... India of all places needs more public transportation.. at least thats what I have seen.. the cities already stink of exhaust fumes. Its going to be great when the roads are fuller still with road blocking more easily affordable nano's.
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Laurens 3:25AM (10/15/2009)
Yeah, let's tell them, you're a 3rd world country, keep your hands of our fuel.
Tohe 3:57AM (10/15/2009)
The Nano should be an easy car to electrify. Perhaps in the future when batteries are affordable many of them will be retrofitted. But yeah in the mean time the Nano is yet another mean to achieve yet more pollution in this planet.
nrb 8:41AM (10/15/2009)
I have to side a little with Peter. India can learn from the rest of the world. They're in a perfect position to do great things with mass transit. They should jump on that.
Eideard 3:32PM (10/15/2009)
Mass transit is great if all you do is work and shop - and you live near on of the transit nodes.
Other than that, you're screwed without personal transport.
I realize most of my friends in the "religious" ecology movement wouldn't live beyond the bounds in somewhere called "sprawl" - another part of the new testament - but, the freedom people have come to accept through any sort of personal transport is expanded by power sources greater than your own body.
I spent 25 years in cycling and the bicycle trade; but, I recognize that society figured out that personal freedom to travel was sorted at least by the end of WW2. All that the equations now requires is the least amount of pollution and the lowest price.
The Tata Nano competes with motorbikes and scooters - and you take the whole family along in greater safety than cramming 5 onto a 3rd-hand scooter.
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