Indian maker Tata launches $2850 car
January 11, 2008 by rjw
Indian maker Tata has revealed its bid to get the country’s growing middle class off their motor scooters and into cars. For a mere 100,000 rupees or about $A2850 (plus charges and taxes – where have we heard that before?) it will offer them the Tata Nano.
A rear-mounted 623cc two-cylinder 25kW engine, an overall length of 3.1m, a four-speed gearbox and manual steering may not be the sort of specification CarAdvice readers drool over, but imagine you’re an Indian office worker sick of riding a scooter to work in the monsoon and taking your whole family out on it on weekends. For the record, the body is sheet metal – it was going to be plastic – and air conditioning and an airbag will be optional on the luxury version.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in New Delhi, Tata chief Ratan Tata said,
“I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family.”
One statistic tells why ordinary Indians are likely to snap up the Nano: New Delhi alone has an annual road death rate of 1800 – only 5 per cent of them are car occupants.
The Nano promises a revolution on Indian streets, still the domain of the ox-cart, the bicycle and the motor scooter in many parts of the country. Initial production will be 250,000 a year but Tata hopes to eventually sell about 1 million Nanos a year in India – that’s about as many cars as the entire Indian market buys now. But in a country where per capita wealth has doubled since 2000 – and is still growing – that doesn’t seem an outlandish boast.
Tata claims fuel consumption of 5 litres per 100km and says the clean sheet design will meet international standards for safety and emissions. The engine meets the Euro 3 standard and will be able to meet Euro 4, it says.
The Nano will go on sale in India later this year. Is there a chance of it coming to Australia? Don’t hold your breath, we say. After a difficult time selling Telcoline utes here in the late ‘90s Tata Motors was investigating launching its conventional Indica and Indigo cars here about two years ago but nothing came of it. And despite $1.50 a litre petrol there probably isn’t a market yet for a car with a top speed of 105km/h.
The effect of the Nano in first-world markets is likely to come from the rethink in manufacturing strategies and costs it has already sparked among rival manufacturers.
Volkswagen, leading Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto, Renault and Ford have all said they are looking at building new cheap cars for India.
It’s likely the Nano’s formula of light weight, and rear engine will come here, either as Mitsubishi’s iCar, the production version of Volkswagen’s up! – or something else we haven’t even heard of yet.
Robert Wilson
Print it: 
******PRIMO!!******
And rightly so!
Seeing i am the one who replied to all the Tata’s postings to fire you guys up!
Diesel and luxo model to follow…
BUT would it sell in Oz?
Cheers
F-0
******SECONDO!******
Forgot to mention its a US$2500, makes it sound cheaper!!
The will sell at least a few 100’s to other auto-companies that want to reverse engineer it.
The MOST amazing thig is that in the price war, China is NOT in the running, there cars start at around US$4000 looks like they will be buying a few too.
I repeat again FULL-MARKS to Indian Tata for having the balls and skill to make a car at that price AND STILL MAKE A PROFIT!! Which cannot be all that much per unit?
Cheers
F-0
******TERZO!******
I will buy one @$3k and put a towable-mower-deck behind it, least its faster more comforable & weatherproof then now what looks like a way-overpriced item, a ride-on-mower!
Then my son can drive it around the property with a seat-belt on and in a cage, safer than motorbikes etc
Cheers
F-0
“i am excited!”
It cracks me up when they wanted to make the body out of plastic. It would fly off at the slightest breeze.
The funny, ironic, and hypocritical part is every other environmentalist is crying at the possibility of a billion Indians driving this car. So we can have a car but Indians cant? Even if this Indian car nothing more than a scooter with four wheels?
What they DONT get is that this car is CLEANER than any hybrid car on the market. Thats right! This 2.5k car gets better mileage than a 28k Prius!
*****QUATTRO!******[Not audi]
Just imagain if theYput Jag or LandRover badges on it, can be Tata’s anwser to what a Caprice is to a Commodore and a LTD [vale!] is to a Falcon!:-) LOL The irony!
On a lighter note one company who has seen the potential of Tata is FIAT, they are married in India-market.
In the future you will see big ALFA-Romeo and Lancia’s RWD sedans based on Jag floorplan.Also FIAT can have first option on Tata if they go belly up, they are desperate for a large [read high profit] RWD floorplan and a SUV family to be cloned into Alfa, Maserati etc etc
NOT dreaming, know and can see what FIAT are doing!
Cheers
F-0
PS/ When can i buy a Nano by Tata?
1 million+ sold of these are year, they all need ULP [and in the future diesel] do the math, you can see what is going to happen to the price of fuel, $2 litre wont be far off…..and more
ALL other companies will have a serious look at base price cars now.The consumer wins!
Cheers
F-0
Far out F-O. Get fired up would ya!
Well done Tata, sure we might scoff at it, but as mentioned the demographic the car is aimed at will appreciate affordable and simple motoring. At least now they will be able to transport their family in relative safety and comfort.
F-O, your damn right. This cars arrival would be the a huge contributor in ULP reaching $2.00+ per litre. In saying that, we cant be entirely selfish, because the ‘west’ has in the past accumulated huge amounts of wealth, and both directly and indirectly have exploited developing countries, through the means of cheap labour, less stringent environmental regulations, tax free havens, etc. Sorry guys, forgot this was car advice, so back onto topic. Kudos to Tata for having the guts to build a ‘car’, at a ‘clints crazy bargains’ price, with their people’s intrests at heart. It will sell like hotcakes.
“Na-Nu Na-Nu” (for those old enough to remember!)
re….
It cracks me up when they wanted to make the body out of plastic. It would fly off at the slightest breeze.
Not at all, my X Trail has plastic frount panels, the Vette is all a type of plastic [fiberglass]
U forgot that it still has a steel floorpan and chassis/unibody and the engine gearbox all steel
etc etc
Its a car, not a aeroplane!U wont get much change out of 850kg+ when it has passengers in it.
A Caterham 7 weighs around 1/2 that!Now thats light, but still not wanting to take off, and it does a good 150MPG
Cheers
F-0
“Its a car, not a aeroplane!” says F-0
I sure hope they have side-wind tested it!
Yeah i could imagine one of these cars tooling down the road when a big Semi trailer comes belting down past it Haaaaaaaa you would end up in a paddock somewhere….
I dont know if anyone here has been to India, but the most common vehicle of choice is a motorbike, and right now the traffic congestion is arguably the worst in the world.
My question is this:
Besides the obvious, Why are Tata throwing millions of these buzzboxes (which are probably the size of 3 motorbikes) at a market that does not have the infrastructure to handle anymore traffic?
a sign of the times?
Two reasons i reckon Dardcy ! Number one over in India that is a shit load of money and number two you answered your own question motorbikes are the main method of transport and push bikes, train, elephants haaa
I reckon the engineers of this car should be congratulated…….and time / road tests will tell if this car gonna survive or not…but not a bad effort at all.
Any western country does not have infrastructure for 1.1 billion population….my feeling is with current growth rate India will squeeze the shit out of western economies.
U guys here at C/A should test one.
Before you shitcan it, remember its less $ than a lot of elcheapo mopeds….
Out latter i the year, see if you can test a Mazda CX7 first:-)
The Nano WOULD sell here, they sold that tiny little Niki for $8k a decade ago, that proves my point!
Cheers
F-0
either way the roads and traffic will no doubt suffer 280, only time will tell how much (and the longetvity of the ‘peoples car’ for that matter)
Agreed F-O, intersting to see what CA’s take on the CX-7 and CX-9 will be. I had a CX-9 all last weekend and was surprisingly impressed!
5.0 litres per 100?
That’s pathetic – we can buy real cars here that use less than that.
I’d much rather pay the extra money for an I30 or similar and have the safety and comfort.
Frugal One I think the word “Shitcan” somes this car up perfectly Thanks :o)
hahaha…Lcat……..Mork calling ORK!!
Unlike Robin William in that series I doubt this will be as successful……ha!
Guess you wouldn’t bother servicing it….just wheel it out to the verg when its expired? Top up the fluids and thats it!
A cheap and affordable car for india! 5 Litres every 100 km doesnt sound like alot, because a Smart Fortwo can get 4.8 Litres per 100 km’s but a smart fortwo cost 20k. Wonder how the interior looks like! If they sold this in Australia and if you put 4 people in it, it will struggle alot and will effect the fuel economy alot! Is it safe?
An airbag for the Luxury version…………that sounds sad! but for a car that cheap and selling it in india probaly not that bad to the people there!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (I meant on first comment) That does sound like a lot with a car of 25kw of power!
Hope it comes out in a sports model with 24″ rims!
Future models will include modern creature comforts like air conditioning, seats and brakes….lol
Airbags were to be a standard feature until mythbusters tested it and found the firing of the airbags actually accelerated the car to warp factor 1 in a nano second.
It is unknown if ‘Buster’ survived the experiment.
The nano is the right car for that market. And other emrging markets where motorbikes and carts are the norm. It probable gets better economy than an old 2 stroke bike as well. plus atleast some occupant protection. Any body who has seen people in india and sri lanka(ect) carrying 4 or 5 people on a bike will understand that.
And as for those who say buy a full size car with the same economy… don’t you think they would if they could. Its like saying the average buyer of a rav4 should buy a benz ML320CDi or BMW x5 3.0 CDi just because they get the same economy, are safer and have more street cred in the western world. Never mind the 200 to 300% price premium.
this car gets top marks for giving the market what it wants. Relatively safe, cheap, all weather transport for 4/5 people at a price they can afford. Performance is not an issue when your stuck behind an ox drawn cart at peak hour in Mumbai at 4pm friday afternoon!!!!
How is this car going to contribute to fuel prices? Think we are talking crap, obviously never been to places like India… instead of having 4 scooters going around your going to have the 4 people in 1 scooter on wheels = GOOD
Oh and as for fuel efficiency… you people are clueless, for starters its a 2 cylinder, instantly you have less eficieincy, so please dont compared it to a modern engine. You want something cheap, you get something cheap… as said right car for the right market.
TP can I recommend a writer for you to track down!
Dale Carnegie……wrote a great book called
“How to Win Friends and Influence People”
Ha Ha Ha Ha…I recommend he read much better material akin to preschool, or a Dummies book like “How to not get people pissed off” as he is too self centred, twisted in his views, cannot meld in as must be a theories person, behaves like he is a cult leader and basically tiresome at best. I do like him, but he is a tiring silly guy! Now where is Mikka???
Oh there there…poor Toyota Puller spitting dummy. “Oh what a feeling….TATA!”
Hey BM guess what my anti spam word was? BMWM3
Anyway, TaTa are working on a deal with Guy Nègre to use his patented compressed air engines. This could have big implications for city air pollution in India. I guess this will move the debate to source pollution…………
Hahahahaha look at the fairies gang up… how about you provide some input into this topic (as I have done) instead of trying all your best to get it off topic (How many times does BM and NM have to do this before a warning is issued?)
Indian TATA is the same company who has the highest bid to take over prestige brands like land rover and JAG.
Last year I was in mumbai …and I was surprised to see more MERC on road than you can see in Brisbane , Adelaide etc….It took shit out of me….
I am sure indian engineers have better reputation thn chinese one in same category.
Compare apple to an apple..
ha ha ha just flicked past the site and saw an entry from TP in the live comments list and thought it a shoe in for a laugh.
i must say what you said about efficiency does hold some merit, its just the way you put it across.
also its not always 1 person 1 scooter.
so where did you visit in India Paul?
i reckon all the asian cities are the same when it comes to motorbike madness (well almost)
the high death rate related to scooters would have to be the crazy way they drive them. 10 wide across 2 lanes and charging and beeping busses and trucks was a big laugh i found
Ok TP……..I guess if you didn’t call people clueless then I wouldn’t have to make such suggestions!
You trying to get peoples backs up with comments like that?
Ford Fairies…pffttt again not needed…..
Exactly AndrewM his comments sometimes are agreeable but why does he have to disrespect others comments by calling them names each time?
I thought my suggestion would help you out!
The Topic……..I think its more about you informing people that your right and everyone else are idiots!
Good to see a decent amount of flaming.
That aside, with only 25kw… how slow would it be with 4 people? Also, can’t wait to see some crash test video’s of this!
Cant be any slower than 4 on a Scooter Aubz I guess.Crash test…..I think it has a safety approval for children over 3 only due to small parts could choke you!hehehe
I’d be very surprised if it meets any international crash std for passenger cars with the lack of front overhang. It sounds a little too lightly built for Oz urban roads, & lacking power. Imagine this thing on the M4!
Probably great in Delhi, though!
IceB
im surprised they got 4 doors on it.
they look like they would be a p-r-i-c-k to get in to though.
also the side mirror is only available on on upper specs to hey?
that alone wont see it pass safety standards. correct me if im wrong but hasnt 2 mirrors been mandatory for some time now?
Anyone take a guess at what size those wheels are? Thought they had stopped making tyres that small!!!!!
Hey maybe Alborz and Anthony could drop into India and do a test drive after the good stuff in France!!!!!That would be a fun review !!
Whats an indicator on a Veyron cost $5,000 pounds….
ha ha ha they are only 3 stud wheels too.
and some people complain about getting 1 space saver with a car,
this one gets 4.
but i’d reckon a space saver would still be bigger
Oh my god they are too…..3 stud?????
Are they off a wheel barrow??
hey now that you mention it yes they probably are.
if you look around the edge of the rim they look to be split rims and they seem to have nuts to pull them apart just like on a wheel barrow.
im guessing they wont be tubeless
Hey you know the Forums down????
I guess you have seen a few wheelbarrows in your time ha…..
Wheelbarrow wheel is overkill…LOL. Would say they are trainer wheels off a tiny pushbike. Dare say if Alborz did test drive would need air con heaps bad….You can work out why as easy – I have been there and well it is a smell you wont forget!
Finally read whole review…fuel efficient, what a true joke of the century! How can this offer something so amazing from a useless engine configuration. Maybe Ford engineers have a part time job at TATA as they strap on a turbo for there supposed Ford ECOBOOST engine thing and presto – forget developement and research. GEEPERS TOYOTA MUST BE LAUGHING AND IF THEY NAIL AN AMAZING ENGINE WITH POWER AND SILLY LOW FUEL EFFICIENT NUMBERS – look out as they may get bigger. Interesting times ahead at who forecasts better on where they are going!