Tata Nano headed to the US by 2015: report | CarAdvice

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Tata Nano headed to the US by 2015: report

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By David Zalstein |
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The world’s cheapest car, the bare-bones Tata Nano from India, will make its way into the US market in three years, albeit redesigned and with a greater level of sophistication.

Industry journal Automotive News reports that Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata sees the US market as a “very enticing” proposition saying, “We are redesigning the Nano for both Europe and the US”.

Tata told the publication that the Indian manufacturer’s new US-market Nano would be more sophisticated than the ultra-cheap model currently sold in India, with a bigger engine, power steering and traction control all added while being priced below US$10,000 ($9735).

Tata Nano - Blue

What remains unclear is how the company would sell the car given Tata – which owns Jaguar Land Rover – currently has no US retail network, with Tata saying, “We have to give a lot of thought to how we would distribute the car”.

The Rs.1.40-1.96 lakh ($2577-$3609) Tata Nano was updated in 2012 with a more efficient and more powerful version of its 642cc two-cylinder engine in an effort to boost struggling sales.


 

  • Noddy of Toyland

    Jay Leno loves his, so maybe it will catch on.

    • mattyman

      Catch on fire?

  • Westie

    Should sit well sideways in the tray of an F-150 as a spare…

  • Andrew Sherwood

    I wonder if this will get sucked up in a tornado in the US.

  • F1orce

    Considering how the base Camry ‘L’ is selling for $18k I really cannot see how this will be sold.

    All the people I know with base Camry’s got them for less than $20k

  • Zaccy16

    don’t get any idea tata! we don’t want this peace of s**t, a used car would be a much better alternative

    • Darryl

      Even the Indians think that. Not only is the car as you describe, but the whole premise behind it’s creation is flawed. People want to aspire to buy a new car, not to know it is by far the most budget basic thing around. No one would be seen dead in this. Should never have left the drawing board, if it ever got there in the first place.

      • Zaccy16

        Exactly Darryl! it doesn’t even have hubcaps!

        • Phil

          For what reason would it or any other car have/should have hubcaps? They serve no purpose other than falling off and lying on the side of the road.

  • horsie

    cars are already so cheap in America. I can’t imagine why anyone would buy one of these. 

  • Pauly

    All those bankrupt American’s who have had their cars repossessed might find the Nano attractive

  • Bill

    If it’s not selling in India, how the hell do you think it’ll sell in the US?

    • John

      Well there was this thing called the gfc, that has taught a lot of people to live/spend more prudently. This car is an example of prudent living. If you want a basic set of wheels, this is it. You can spend your money on other things such as food and buy comprehensive insurance, not Ctp. This is how I think it would sell in the US.

      • Andy

        Bill is living in 13th century, when there was no cars. 

  • hymie

    Normal American cup holders are bigger than this car. Rednecks will think they are game and shoot them!  Seriusly, the Yanks will p!ss themselves laughing as they try to get into one.

  • moonie

    Power steering ?  The things about the size of a phone box.  Surely some body strengthening would be more to the point (its made from tinfoil).

    Not all Americans are cowboys.  New England is pretty high density.

  • nickdl

    Is traction control really necessary in a 20kw car??

  • Matt

    A $3000 car for $10,000, bargain!

    • Matt

      So basically a $3000 POS is somehow going to be sold for 3x as much, while still being a POS, and make sales. Whatever their smoking give me some.