Tata Unveils the 2008 Nano, the $2,500 Car

Jonathan Fung January 10th, 2008 4:45 AM Link

I think the Power Wheels car I played with as a child had bigger tires than this.

phd_engineer January 10th, 2008 7:05 AM Link

I would like to see the car torn down and analyzed. It is a much more practical design than the Smart ForTwo. I have seen Indian scooters that are sold in the US up close and the quality is surprisingly good.

Vikas Amba January 10th, 2008 7:35 AM Link

Pride of INDIA

MGBYG January 10th, 2008 7:39 AM Link

Is this the Little Tykes version of the Prius?

They’d have to scrape these out of the fender-wells of all the Tahoes and ‘Gators doing 85 on I-10…

Eliza January 10th, 2008 8:28 AM Link

I would like to see the inside of the car… but as my fav radio station said this morning it holds like 2 people and 2000 songs lol

Donald January 10th, 2008 8:33 AM Link

Here and at Autoblog, people are quick to put this effort down, but how far removed is this car than what the Europeans introduced to their markets as their populations moved away from motorcycles to enclosed conveyance? We may be decades past those European introductions, but similarities in incomes and market conditions make the comparison apropriate, and those early European offerings weren’t concerned with environmental or safety goals.

We still have to see if this car is just smoke and mirrors, or something of substance, but it looks like a practical effort to meet what THEIR market and population are looking for.

Donald January 10th, 2008 9:04 AM Link

Just like outsourced labor from India - cheap and underpowered.

whistle January 10th, 2008 9:44 AM Link

At least 100 two wheeler riders die everyday in Bangalore, India due to hit by fourwheelers. This car, I hope would cut that number into half. Thanks Tata!!

dieselhead January 10th, 2008 10:07 AM Link

It holds 4 people, btw.

dieselhead January 10th, 2008 10:10 AM Link

The other salient point is that emissions are claimed to be half of a motorcycle’s emissions. Maybe not great, but given that the target market consists of people who otherwise would buy a motorcycle, this is a step forward.

y Myers January 10th, 2008 11:20 AM Link

Is there a way to order one for US usage soon

Winding Road » Archive » Tata’s Nifty Nano: Images Galore! January 10th, 2008 11:27 AM Link

[…] story of the Indian car destined to motorize a huge portion of that nation’s populace, the $2,500 Tata Nano, we left off giving you a good idea of what the car looks like. (Click on the thumbnails below to […]

Bourne 2B Wilde January 10th, 2008 11:33 AM Link

Wherever you are across the globe, you better track this product!

Here’s my take on this:

http://randomjunkyramblings.blogspot.com/2008/01/product-tracking-tata-nano.html

You have got to admit- its an exciting event!

Bourne 2B Wilde January 10th, 2008 11:38 AM Link

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/tata-nano-the-worlds-cheapest-car/?hp
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119993102461279857.html

Wherever you are across the globe, you better track this product!

Here’s my take on this:

http://randomjunkyramblings.blogspot.com/2008/01/product-tracking-tata-nano.html

You have got to admit- its an exciting event! And it even looks like a smartcar.

Throopspeed January 10th, 2008 11:57 AM Link

BTW the Tata has a 2 cylinder engine per MSNBC this AM.And I think that there will be a big ripple in the world carmaker pond as a result of it…

MJK January 10th, 2008 12:04 PM Link

I’ll give you twelve bucks for it.

Nick January 10th, 2008 12:33 PM Link

Hmm, rear wheel drive? Rear 2-cylinder engine? Sounds like what the Nuovo Fiat 500 should have been based on. I think I remember reading someplace that Tata would allow coachbuilders to create bodies for the 1-Lakh (Nano). What if someone built a Fiat 500 or Abarth 695SS body for the Nano and tuned it up a little?

Tata Nano Car - Tata Nano Car News » Tata Unveils the 2008 Nano, the $2500 Car January 10th, 2008 2:35 PM Link

[…] Unveils the 2008 Nano, the $2500 Car unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAlthough Tata aims to keep the cost […]

mbslrm January 10th, 2008 8:30 PM Link

By making this, Tata put them self on the map.

While this car would never succeed in North America, it will do wonders for Tata in India.

And, like all other Indian products, this car will last a good 10 years.

fantasyfreddy January 10th, 2008 10:10 PM Link

this would sell huge in usa!

VINCENT January 10th, 2008 11:28 PM Link

TATA NANO IS IT ALSO FOR CANADIAN PEOPLES OR JUST ANOTHER COUNTRY THANKS

Winding Road » Archive » Glorious: Watch Tata Unveil the $2,500 Nano January 11th, 2008 9:09 AM Link

[…] we see the official unveiling, in all of its overly dramatic glory, of Tata’s famed $2,500 Nano “people’s car” at the Auto Expo in New Delhi […]

Babit Lal January 11th, 2008 10:07 AM Link

I wanted to know the way to get dealer ship for Tata Nano.

Regards

Babit Lal

mayur January 12th, 2008 4:44 AM Link

really a car made to meet all the levels of the people
car is for comfort
comfort lies in car
if it carries minimum of 4…………..

George K January 12th, 2008 4:58 AM Link

déjà vu
Just as the Ford Model T born in 1908. Vehicle for the masses.
Just as the TATA Nano born in 2008. Vehicle for the masses in India. (100 years) Consequence?

George K January 12th, 2008 5:09 AM Link

John Deere should partner with TATA and import this for a good enclosed riding mower. Americanize it with AC and cup holders.

Aditya P.Munuktula January 12th, 2008 12:04 PM Link

The Nano is cute and economical…a killer combination that is sure to work out HUGE with the masses…anyways,check out my detailed blog at http://www.nanocar.blogspot.com

Ducati Minor January 12th, 2008 7:51 PM Link

Westerners have a jaded attitude, but the Tata is not an enthusiast’s car. Just like the Morris Minor or the Tin Lizzie, this is an econo-box meant to bring millions who could not normally afford a new automobile into the Motor Age. The Smart ForTwo is, I’m sure, a better-built vehicle, but it runs for $12,000 and up, averages under 40 mpg (according to Automobile), and must overcome the skepticism of Americans in love with V-8 trucks and large sedans.

I’ll take a wait & see approach to how the Nano measures up, but if it is anywhere close in quality to Japanese or European micro-cars, the Indians have done their job. Maybe this is the sign that the twenty-first century belongs to Asia.

AJ January 12th, 2008 9:47 PM Link

India has a low cost 3 wheeled mass transportation taxis called Autos. Autos cost around 1000-1200USD. This one “nano” looks like 4 wheeled AUTOS, no offence on anyone, it is pure functional device to take 4 people from Point A - Point B. The Grammar of Car is obtained from Sedans but I don’t see this one fits any of Sedans or SUVS or coupe. If the pulling torque and mileage is Decent, TATAs are going to make a fortune out of this nano from Indian Market.

bindaasbhai January 15th, 2008 6:34 AM Link

Atleast we got the world talking !!!!

bindaasbhai January 15th, 2008 6:43 AM Link

Of all the automobile manufacturers, here came a not so well known, INDIAN company, TATA, who actually cared about what people wanted and built something based on people’s expectation. It is, in all its sense, A People’s car.Unlike other car manufacturers, who are trying to rip you off, by throwing in the features you dont require or need and making you pay a higher price for it. Cmon people, cars are meant to take from point A to B,and are not for basking in the sun, through your sunroof. I being a indian (feeling proud as ever), congratulate TATAS for making this dream a reality !!!
Atleast the developed world was not able to do it.

bindaasbhai January 15th, 2008 6:49 AM Link

@Donald..
Well atleast somebody is working in the world… and not sitting on their big fat a*ses, drinking beer and eating processed food (junk as per my standard), and talking about INDIA as if you know this place.
Donald, it is time for your rectal exam and get that sh*t cleared out of your brain as well !!!

CATvader January 15th, 2008 7:44 PM Link

Cant wait to see this car come to Singapore and get sold for US10,000dollars after the government imposes the super taxes here..
Just nice for me and my cat to ride next to me..maye can add in a rear thruster engine from my GSXR400 salvaged engine to get 155km/h.

CATvader January 15th, 2008 7:50 PM Link

sad to hear those high 2-wheeler fatality rates in india.. but i think its more to the driver attitudes there causing deaths.. been to india.. the roads are a chaos..must implement some kind of juntha rule on the roads to curb the problem, like in sgp..

bangaloreboy January 17th, 2008 8:55 AM Link

whoever said 100 people die evryday on 2 wheelers in bangalore is talking crap.

lilmeezy January 18th, 2008 10:34 PM Link

it would be nice if they can get it up to 80

Noordeen January 20th, 2008 2:21 AM Link

Dear Sir i Want to Buy one car. I want to Know hOw Many Models Are Thier in Tata Nano. How to Buy? What Is Least Price in Car

{)Y!@N January 25th, 2008 11:18 PM Link

hey i have beenlookin for a car i live in mississippi that is in america and i would like to no how much this would cost all together and how many modles there are and i like the car so hurry and reply i want one BAD!!!!!!!!!!!