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Tata Readies For Global Roll-Out Of The Nano

Posted on 27 July 2009 by Scott

After successfully launching the world’s cheapest small car on Indian roads, the Tata Nano, Tata Motors has now turned its attention to prepare for the global roll-out of the US$2000 compact car. It is not only looking at markets like the U.S., Europe and Russia, but also banking on Latin America and South Asian nations to sell this fuel-efficient car.

Tata Motors, which has a tie-up with Fiat, is well-placed to leverage the marketing and sales network of the Italian car manufacturer across nations, particularly Europe and Latin America. Tata Motors believes that apart from India, developing South American economies like Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela could be a good market for Nano. For Fiat, Brazil is one of its biggest markets where it has strong dealership network and this may go in Tata Motors’ favour.

Tata Motors had already unveiled its Europe-specific model, the Europa, at the Geneva Motor Show, which it plans to introduce in 2011. Tata Group head, Ratan Tata, had said that though the European version of Nano would have different specifications to the Indian version, it will still remain a ‘people’s car’ (in terms of pricing). Unlike the Indian model, the Europa will be equipped with a sturdy bumper, a more rigid body, an air-conditioner, two airbags and electrically operated windows. Tata Motors already sells its models in Italy, Spain and Poland, and hence is comfortably placed to market its much-awaited model. It is also banking on Russia as a good market.

For Tata Motors, the good news came recently when Nano passed the crash test held in the U.K. Interestingly, it was Nano’s Indian model and not Europa (the model designed specially for Europe markets), which passed the ‘40% offset’ crash test at 56 km/h and the side-impact tests at a high-tech test facility at Birmingham. It is mandatory to clear these basic tests before a car is allowed to be sold in Europe. Similarly, the Nano is headed for the U.S. market in the next couple of years. Tata Motors would have to get safety and emissions certifications before selling Nano in the U.S., where it can take advantage of the Fiat-Chrysler distribution network. Its superb mileage and emissions conforming to European standards would help it become a big draw in the Western markets, particularly Europe and the U.S. that have so far remained glued to fuel-guzzling SUV’s and sedans.

Tata Motors is also looking at South Asia and African markets. While countries like Thailand and Malaysia offer good prospects for Nano in Southeast Asia, in Africa, where Tata Motors is fast progressing, Nano might run on the streets of Nigeria, South Africa, Congo, Senegal and Namibia by 2011.

Adapted from TheHindu

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Tags: 2009 tata nano, first delivery, nano, nano cx, nano lx, ratan tata, tata, tata ceo, tata india, tata motors, tata nano, tata nano lx

Ratan Tata Delivers The First Tata Nano

Posted on 21 July 2009 by Scott

Deliveries have begun of the world’s cheapest car, Tata’s landmark Nano. The car tipped to drastically alter India’s automotive landscape was personally delivered by Tata Motors CEO, Ratan Tata, to three lucky customers at a special launch event in Mumbai India.

Overwhelming demand for the car, which has a starting price from just 140 000 Rupees, saw the first 100 000 delivery slots decided in a national lottery.

That first production allocation is expected to take around 12 months to fill.

Ratan Tata decided to develop the low-cost car after seeing entire families piled onto scooters in India’s streets.

With motorcycles currently outselling cars seven to one in India, the Nano was conceived as a viable, and safer option for India’s rapidly growing middle class.

A 59 year-old customs official from Mumbai, Ashok Raghunath Vichare, was the first to take delivery of the Nano. He said that he and his family would be taking the car, an up-spec LX variant, to a nearby Hindu temple to have it blessed.

After a being forced to relocate the Nano’s production facility, due to a land dispute, Tata has delivered the car 12 months behind schedule.

Three versions of the 624 cc engined Nano will be available: the basic Nano and the more luxurious CX and LX variants which add luxury features such as air-conditioning, central locking, alloy wheels and painted bumpers, topping out at 185 000 Rupees.

While the Nano will only initially be available in India, plans are underway to export a slightly larger and more powerful version of the car to Europe by 2011.

Other world markets are set to follow after that, although Tata has not yet revealed where or when this might happen.

Adapted from TheMotorReport

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