First Tata Nano delivered to proud Indian family
July 18, 2009 by Paul Maric
While most of us take driving and owning a car for granted, Tata’s ambition to sell the world’s cheapest car has come to fruition, with the first delivery of the super-cheap car taking place in Mumbai, India.
Mr.Ashok Raghunath Vichare of Mumbai was lost for words as he took delivery of the car, claiming that it will make travelling the treacherous and climatic conditions of Mumbai much safer.
The first three Tata Nanos will be exclusively handed over by Tata Sons chairman, Ratan Tata.
There’s very little doubt the Nano, which is powered by a 623cc, rear-mounted, two-cylinder engine, which produces 25kW will be a runaway success all over the world.
With an initial production run of around 250,000 per year, Tata hopes to eventually sell up to 1-million Tata Nanos a year in India.
Image courtesy of Indian Autos Blog
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I hope they enjoy it. The Nano got a four star crash test score the other day, just thought I’d say.
Yeah .. if this takes off in India it will make TATA billions of dollars… hopefully he invests some in Jaguar
As for the family who the first one. Well done.
1x million Nano’s in India per year, they ALL need petrol, do the math, crude oil will be going up!
Well done to Tata, they said it could not be done at that price, that showed them! And unlike the Chinese, you guys did’nt copy anything/body, its a origonal design, 10 out of 10.
Might sell here too if it was like only $4999 driveaway.
Cheers
F-0
its a groundbreaking concept hope it does well
Not quite a new concept Rocket_v6. Henry Ford used the production line to make the Model T Ford cheaper to make, thus cheaper to sell and to provide motoring to the masses.
Though this is groundbreaking as it hasn’t ever been done to this extent and the current and next generations of Indians will be mobilised (forgive the pun). Lets hope it doesn’t blow up in Tata’s face and JLR go down with them, or go to a company that cannot run them properly as Tata have been doing.
HAHA spam word Jaguar( I dont think these spam words are entirely random)
TATA deserve to make billions so they can invest and make all Jags as good as the XF. They could also invest some of that moolah into giving LR a new design philosophy.
AND it passes the European front and side impact standard crash tests.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/.....rs/241500/
vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahw7-KarkWw
this should shut up all those who thought it was tin can or ‘my ride on mover is stronger’ group members
Can get a four star rating all it wants, but if that thing hit a tree, bye bye car occupants.
imagine using that car for your p’s test. “ok i’m going to need you to 3 point turn here” hahahaha
it is only a four wheel schooter at most anyway. Anyone going to buy one and risk their life in that thing with your only money? NO ONE!!
The guy in the suit and the little kid are having a death stare match.
” Listen kid this is an important day for me: you are not the centre of attention here.”
“Your car looks like it’s been given a wedgie!”
” You will too if you don’t be quiet!”
Oh yeah, this car is so going to be tuned up by Indian ‘Need for Speed’ wannabes. I’m waiting on Youtube for some owner to lower it, add some black rims and fit a flat four from the Impreza. Mmmmmmmmm……
I love cars. I love big, powerful, fast cars.. but THIS car makes so much sense.
This car isnt aimed at people like us from the developed world who have actually seen proper cars (not daewoos). Its forthose indian families who ride six to a bike. Trust me ive been to India and it is very scary. I saw in this oreder: a father two children, a mother two more children and then a grandfather.
Shak,
I must say I agree with your comment.
This isnt aimed at the developed countries. For places like India and Thailand, this is a pretty big deal.
I dont think we will ever see our aussie consumers who are addicted to all the bells and whistles ever welcome this, but then they are not meant to
Cool! Finally Tata Nano is on the move hehe I definitely hope they enjoy driving and riding it. This is the right time for Tata Nano to prove its worth.
Quite an engineering vs cost achievement by virtue of cheap labour no doubt.
Bin Laden – India has cities the size of Sydney with 20 Million + in population. Cities like Mumbai are bustling metropolis’s with families riding on scooters to reach their destination. Compared to that, this car will revolutionise transport in counties with demographics like India. So your theory of “no one” will be buying these cars is a little far fetched champ. Ratan Tata is not a stupid person, these cars will sell to their intended market with no problem.
I think I will just keep my Ipod Nano.
What are the chances that we’ll be seeing 12+ people crammed into one of these things? Its a very purposeful car that Tata have created, but i hope it doesn’t get abused either.
I hope their roads can cope with all the extra traffic!
I think we are going to have to teach them how to drive before we sell them a car…
I wonder how many girls one could pick up in one of these? Picture a hot, steamy Friday night cruising along Church Street, Parramatta in your Nano, 50 cent pumping from the stereo (if the Nano has one)…
i had a good look at a new suzuki alto the other day, and despite the interior quality being pretty ordinary i thought the car was reasonably well screwed together. Not a bad job india well done
For me, it shouldn’t be the proud of India.
Imagine Smart42 was sent flying-off with 2 spin after crashed head-to-head with a Mercedes, Nano will do 4 spin in the air before it finally landed back at the side of road or worst, bang by another few vehicles after the same type of car crash. So it earned 4star NCAP doesn’t mean it’s a safe car to drive.
And Indian shouldn’t be very proud of it at all. Nano only sent the message to the world that India population still earning lowly income overall, so they need a super cheap car. 1 million sales per year also mean, more damage to the already highly polluted air in India major cities, more CO2 release to our planet earth.
If Tata ever produce a GTR super car at half the price, then it will really show thsend the world go crazy and something to be really amaze at. Too bad, Nano wasn’t THE ONE.
For me, it shouldn’t be the proud of India.
Imagine Smart42 was sent flying-off with 2 spin after crashed head-to-head with a Mercedes, Nano will do 4 spin in the air before it finally landed back at the side of road or worst, bang by another few vehicles after the same type of car crash. So it earned 4star NCAP doesn’t mean it’s a safe car to drive.
And Indian shouldn’t be very proud of it at all. Nano only sent the message to the world that India population still earning lowly income overall, so they need a super cheap car. 1 million sales per year also mean, more damage to the already highly polluted air in India major cities, more CO2 release to our planet earth.
If Tata ever produce a GTR super car at half the price, then it will really represent what India capable of by sending the car world go crazy and something everybody really amaze at. Too bad, Nano wasn’t THE ONE.
Whoever said that we need to teach Indians how to drive has definetly not been to India. Although they may not have proper road manners and not realise what the red amber and green things on the pole are, thye can do some amazing things with those four wheeled contraptions. They could teach some of us developed folk how to drive.
Anyone stop to wonder where they’re going to park all these things? When they were getting around on scooters and bikes, it was a lot easier but now, imagine one million micro cars being added per year. They better start building multistory carparks soon.
Hjalle says: “I think we are going to have to teach them how to drive before we sell them a car…”
What do you mean we? Australia is nowhere near the best example of a safe driving environment. We have lots to learn ourselves.
Not only are some of the Car Advice readers rather abusive, but a good number seem to be a bit racist as well. I always wondered whether the anti-Korean car fraternity were wholly focussed on the cars, now we know that if some of us are not exactly racist there are definite signs of the arrogance which was at the base of the colonialist era, such as “OK for Indians, but not for proper white chaps.”.
Anyone who doubts Indian competence ought to look at the number of Indians in senior positions in Silicon Valley. The idea that the Tata Nano can be produced at the price AND get 4 star safety scores is real innovation – far more difficult than most other automotive “advances”.
I wonder how much Tata is paying the poor workers in the factory? $1 a day? Do they have rights? Do they stop the
production line if one worker in injured?Do they work 12 hours a day? 16 hours a day? Does anyone care?
Oh, maybe $58,000 per annum including shift allowances, G6ETURBO? Is that what you want to hear? Does it matter, in the overall scheme of things, when something as triumphant as this is concerned?
The BIG question is WILL it be sold here in AUS?Looks like Europe and US is go.
If the silly punters buy SMALLER Smart’s[stupid?]brand vehicles, this is BIGGER more useful yet 1/5th the price.
@ $4999 people WOULD buy it, looks ok to me as a city/shopping runabout and SAFER/BIGGER than a MORE expensive scooter.
Well done Ratan Tata for keeping your word, “a promise is a promise” 10 out of 10!
Hows your daily-drive Maserati going? :-)
Cheers
F-0
i think i can see a million donkeys at the employment office (lol)…
“”G6ETURBO
I wonder how much Tata is paying the poor workers in the factory? $1 a day? Do they have rights? Do they stop the
production line if one worker in injured?Do they work 12 hours a day? 16 hours a day? Does anyone care?”"
tata had worker rights way before any other western companies way back in 1912, even before henry ford’s 8 hr shifts for ford. Tata is perhaps one of the few companies in india and the world that today do have social Conscience . When you r ignorant dont type, just makes u look stupid!!
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Isnt the whole point for this to give a 3rd world market an affordable and safer mode of transportation than scooter. Why do we need this in Australia? Whats the incentive? Ridiculous. The people who buy the smart are probably making a fashion statement if anything. I highly doubt that customer base will be in the market for a car like this.
Add running boards and a roof rack you could fit the whole family on board.
Meanwhile, Cairn Energy Plc has announced its Rajasthan field in India
will begin oil output by the end of September, in line with its
schedule, reports Bloomberg. Earlier in the year Cairn Energy said
that at peak production of 175k b/d the field may reduce India’s oil
imports by as much as 7%.
By late afternoon in London, ICE Brent was trading at $67.31/bbl.
Well done tata. Wish we have some one with vision like him here in uk.
Great article on the Tata Nano. I know you can find many more interestnig articles on the automotive industry including who helped Tata build the at http://www.industrial-machinery-news.com
Thanks for the information
IMN
Awesome article. Awesome Info. Thanks!!!