Hybrid Tata Nano on the way
December 1, 2009 by Tim Beissmann
Tata told The Maeil Business Newspaper of South Korea that he believes the “low-price revolution” will be the future of his company and the global automotive industry, and said that demand for low-end products in India would be well above that of more expensive high-end goods.
Tata would not speculate further over possible production or launch details of the hybrid Nano, with plans still believed to be in the early stages.
Delivery of the current Nano, known widely as the world’s cheapest car at 100,000 rupees (AUD$2350), began in July this year.
Weighing just 600kg, it is unlikely the hybrid Nano will get a full hybrid system with an electric motor and battery pack capable of powering the car for long distances.
Start/stop engine technology and braking regeneration are two possibilities to extend the car’s range, and may be combined with a diesel engine which is in a more advanced stage of planning.
Or perhaps Tata could take inspiration from fellow Indian manufacturer Tara International which sells an all-electric car for 99,000 rupees, 1000 less than the Nano.
Print it: 
A hybrid Tata? whats that a hole in the floor so you can do the Fred Flintstone.
“The Tara Titu is powered by a 3kW electric motor and can run for 120km on a single eight hour charge, albeit at a top speed of 50km/h”
Well considering you can buy a 1kW electric drill, thats actually not bad.
Yeh but see in countries like India they don’t reach the high speeds that we do here and also everything in India is very stop start. Great idea though and really really useful hopefully this is a change in the right direction. P.S its cheaper than a motorbike that speaks volumes in my book.
Aaah…The NANO
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Thats going to be one of the most evolved cars ever built.
TATAs are doing an excellent job as they franchise, customize and tweak it.
I bet in 10 years , this car will dominate first the east , then then the west.
Its already changed the auto industry landscape and its ownesr are sure footedly crafting it for the future.
(LOL Spam word Tesla)
This is the way the Nano should have come out in the first place… (imho) With the voumes they’re aiming for it would have made Tata the world leader in Hybrid vehicles and given them the incentive to pursue at a greater rate than anybody else…
FACT 1, Nano is NOT the cheapest production car. A series of licensed suzuki have been built in China for more than 10 years for around the same price, but with all the features like a normal car, 3340/1500/1480mm 796cc, proper chassis, just like mini-size cars in 1980s, but still far better than Nano. And yes, it has a full set of mirrors, unlike Nano.
FACT 2, Nano is claimed again and again by TATA to be cheapest, despite facts that there are other production cars cheaper and better equiped.
FACT 3, There is NOTHING innovative about Nano, nothing at all. Every single car manufacturer can do it, and very likely do it better. If you intend to argue, please see the better cars built in China and other developing markets, they are not benz or bmw, but at least they are honest about themselves and do not call themselves “invention, dominate, crafting it for the future”.
Just for clarification what is the worlds cheapest production car then? Yo usay the chinese ara AROUND the same price but are they actually cheaper. The TATA was made for the growing Indian and Chinese markets and TATA really dont car what anyone but these markets think about it.
More than one manufacturers in China have been building cars based on suzuki 2AT and its successors for more than a decade. Around 2000, the price of the very basic model is around US$2200-2400, even the basic model in late 1990s have air-con, alloy, and again, full set of mirrors(sorry, have to say it again when some other car doesn’t have it). Today’s model are around US$2600-3000, but it is far more advanced car than previous model.
And the point is, reducing cost by cutting corners is nothing innovative, there are heaps of cars had done that before.
supermarket trolley