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View Full Version : Tata Nano to hit Indian roads in July


SlowHands
03-23-2009, 08:18 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Indian_Flag.jpg Launching six months behind schedule in a subdued market (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSBOM3020420090323)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Tata_Nano.jpgby Reuters – March 23, 2009

Car makers everywhere are having some problems. I hope this one hits the roads. -- Ed.

MUMBAI, March 23 (Reuters) - The Nano, the world's cheapest car, will hit Indian roads in July, with expectations that demand from millions of aspiring car owners will far outstrip supply.

Launching six months behind schedule in a subdued market, with production in the first year severely constrained, and the threat of further ratings downgrades hanging over the company, it will take over a year to deliver the first 100,000 cars.

Owners will be randomly selected from bookings made between April 9 and 25, and their prices will be protected, said Chairman Ratan Tata, who had promised a 100,000 rupee ($1,980) dealer price at a glitzy unveiling more than a year ago.

"We are at the gates offering a new form of transportation to the people of India, and later I hope other markets as well," Tata told a news conference.

A European variant will be launched by 2011, and the company is also looking at the United States, as the current economic situation has made low-cost cars even more attractive, even though that had not been the original intention....http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSBOM3020420090323

Indigo
03-23-2009, 11:57 AM
The great thing about releasing a car that small in India is that the drivers won't have to worry about getting pulverized by 6,500 lb Escalades and Hummers (no one there has any!) They also wonn't be competing against the American "need for speed", as even a modestly connfigured car will beat the heck out of public transportation in many cases.

scissorhands
03-24-2009, 02:18 AM
Personally I'd prefer it on 13" wheels, a tad wider and lower and it would be cool.

580kg is pretty light, but for a car like this could have been 480kg

Whats the front grill for if its rear engined?

I wonder what FE improvements would be like with a front air mod and hypermiled with high pressure tyres and maybe an upgear via larger diameter tyres?

Psion
03-24-2009, 11:16 AM
I was just in Mumbai a week before everything went down, and I can tell you, this car will be perfect for those streets and speed.
The only issue is avoiding the number of Ambassador taxis all over the place.
:)



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