Tata Nano
| Tata Nano | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Tata Motors |
| Production | 2008–present |
| Assembly | Sanand Plant, Sanand, Gujarat, India |
| Designer | Girish Wagh, Justin Norek, Pierre Castinel |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | City car |
| Body style | 4-door one-box |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2 cylinder SOHC petrol Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 624 cc (38.1 cu in) |
| Transmission | 4 speed synchromesh manual with overdrive in 4th |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,230 mm (87.8 in) |
| Length | 3,099 mm (122.0 in) |
| Width | 1,495 mm (58.9 in) |
| Height | 1,652 mm (65.0 in) |
| Kerb weight | 600–635 kg (1,323–1,400 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Tata GenX Nano |
The Tata Nano is a city car manufactured by Tata Motors. Made and sold in India, the Nano was initially launched with a price of one lakh rupees or ₹100,000 (US$1,500), which has increased with time. Designed to lure India's burgeoning middle classes away from motorcycles, it received much publicity.
After having successfully launched the low cost Tata Ace truck in 2005, Tata Motors began development of an affordable car that would appeal to the many Indians who ride motorcycles. The purchase price of this no frills auto was brought down by dispensing with most nonessential features, reducing the amount of steel used in its construction, and relying on low cost Indian labour.
The introduction of the Nano received much media attention due to its low price.
Expectations created for the car during the run up to its production may have been out of proportion with its realised success. A 2008 study, by Indian rating agency CRISIL, thought the Nano would expand the nation's car market by 65%, but, as of late 2012, news reports have detailed the underwhelming response of the Indian consumer to the offering; sales in the first two fiscal years after the car's unveiling remained steady at about 70,000 units although Tata appears intent on maintaining a capacity to produce the car in much larger quantities, some 250,000 per year, should the need arise.
It was anticipated that its 2009 debut would greatly affect the used car market, and prices did drop 25–30% prior to the launch. Sales of the Nano's nearest competitor, the Maruti 800, fell by 20% immediately following the unveiling of the Nano. It is unknown if the Nano has had a lasting effect on the prices of and demand for close substitutes, however. In July 2012, Tata's Group chairman Ratan Tata, who retired in January 2014, said that the car had immense potential in the developing world while admitting that early opportunities were wasted due to initial problems.
Tata Motors announced in 2006 that the Nano would be manufactured in Singur, West Bengal. Local farmers soon began protesting the forced acquisition of their land the new factory entailed. Tata first delayed the Nano launch and later decided to build the car in a different state, Gujarat, instead.
Announced as the most affordable production car in the world, Tata aimed for a price of one lakh rupees, or ₹100,000, which was approximately $2,000 US at the time. Only the very first customers were able to purchase the car at that price, however, and as of 2017, the price for the basic Nano starts around ₹ 215,000. Increasing material costs may be to blame for this rapid rise in price.
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