Here's the $2,500 Tata Nano, the Indian peoples car
The low-cost Indian "peoples car" has finally been shown in public for the first time at the New Delhi Auto Expo. Developed by Tata Motors to a target price of $2,500, the four seater has a 624cc gasoline engine mounted under the rear seat and is called the Nano. There has been a lot concern that meeting the price target would require Tata to skimp on emission controls and safety. The manufacturer claims that the 33hp engine meets current Euro IV emissions standards and is cleaner than most of the scooters running around on Indian streets right now. They also claim that the car has passed frontal and side impact tests although no mention is currently made of what standard they are testing too.
The Nano will be available in three trim levels with the base $2,500 getting no air conditioning. The two upper levels do get AC although it's not clear if that 33hp engine will be able to move the car and provide chilled air at the same time. The minimalist interior includes non-reclining seating for four, a four speed manual transmission, an a dashboard with speedometer, fuel gauge and oil light. Tata claims the Nano can achieve 54 mpg (U.S.) presumably without the A/C. It should be available in the second half of 2008 with a sales target of 500,000 units annually.
[Source: Rediff, thanks to Sayyad for the tip]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-10-2008 @ 10:26AM
Scott Smith said...
A bigger picture analysis of this story is here:
http://www.changeist.com/changeism/2008/1/7/china-india-and-pragmatic-technology-design.html
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1-10-2008 @ 10:33AM
kert said...
This thing needs an electric motor and batteries.
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1-10-2008 @ 10:34AM
kert said...
This thing needs an electric motor and batteries.
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1-10-2008 @ 10:34AM
kert said...
Now fix this thing with electric motor and batteries.
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1-10-2008 @ 10:37AM
nom de plum said...
Here is the official Tata site for the Nano: http://www.tatapeoplescar.com/tatamotors/
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1-10-2008 @ 11:11AM
Michael said...
It seems to be nothing more than a go cart with a full body.
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1-10-2008 @ 11:47AM
Rick said...
It wouldn't make it up any hills with any amount of weight in it but for zipping around town it might be okay
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1-10-2008 @ 11:49AM
steven said...
@6: I other words, the same as many of the alternative vehicles shown on this blog. Without kert's electric motor and batteries of course....
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1-10-2008 @ 12:13PM
Throwback said...
Having been to India this is better than 5 people on a motorcycle. Traffic is so bad (at least in Mumbai and Bangalore)this will make it worse. As far as pollution, is this cleaner than a 600CC motorcycle?
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1-10-2008 @ 2:15PM
ug said...
It looks like a Prius that hit a wall.
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1-10-2008 @ 5:48PM
Sree said...
Time to take Hacking to Autos now... whts ur fav Vi or Emacs :) .. you can do so much with this.. add electric motors.. solar panels ... li-Ion Batteries .. Plug ins... since its diesel ..you can use Bio Diesel... Tons to play around with...
This is an Open Source Green Car.
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1-10-2008 @ 6:36PM
Joseph said...
I don't think we should be so critical of the car.
My first reaction was basically how terrible the car is. But, considering its price, I actually think it's pretty good. This marks a chapter in the growth of India and the rest of Asia. Now whether that's good or not is a matter up for debate.
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1-10-2008 @ 7:31PM
Dan said...
Yes, it's much cleaner than a 2 stroke motor scooter, and probably about as clean as a 4 stroke motor scooter.
Has anyone noticed the similarity to the Citreon 2CV? Not in styling, but it does have a 33hp 2 cyl rear engine and nearly the same performance.
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1-10-2008 @ 7:40PM
rob said...
This. Is. Fantastic. News.
Seriously, this is up there with One Laptop Per Child.
By putting a new, efficient, CLEAN car into the reach of used car buyers, in a single stroke Tata has just ensured that tens, and maybe hundreds of thousands of inefficient dirty old clunkers will be taken off Indian roads each year and recycled into something better. And these will also be taking thousands of incredibly dirty 2-stroke scooters and bikes off the road as well.
Expect air quality to measurably improve in Indian cities (and the cities of any other developing country they end up being exported to) thanks entirely to these cars.
I wish them every success.
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1-10-2008 @ 11:00PM
Wildgoosechase said...
Sure making it electric sounds good but remember this is India. The electrical grid doesn't run 24/7 in a lot of the country if at all. That coupled with their income precludes electric vehicles. Perhaps it would be better for the planet if they continued to travel by mule?
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1-11-2008 @ 8:53AM
Aviv said...
Wildgoosechase I'd be happy to buy you a mule if you'd care to give up your car. Why should an Indian have to give up there's?
All in all, India is making GIANT leaps towards 'green' power, with rapid increases in turbine/ hydro installations.
An electric car, especially in Metros, makes sense. Just look at the reva - www.revaindia.com
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1-11-2008 @ 12:09PM
Bill Weir said...
Great! I will take 10 of them to use around Mount Desser Island, Maine where I live.
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1-11-2008 @ 4:47PM
Klay said...
at first I thought it was a NEV/ neighorhood electric vehicle and thought 'hey not bad' I might want one. Then I read that it gets good gas milage and goes up to 60 mph. Now all I can think is DEATH TRAP. It shouldn't take an engineer to figure out that hitting a stationary object at 60 mph will flatten that thing and whoever is inside it as well. I doubt that price includes any airbags. BUT... if you're used to risking your neck on a scooter in the traffic jam of doom every day then by all means... knock yourself out... just please leave the kids at home... with their next of kin please.
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1-11-2008 @ 7:01PM
Tagbert said...
"goes up to 60 mph"
This is not a large additional risk. Most traffic in India travels relatively slowly due to all the congestion. On highways outside the cities, the greater danger is hitting unlit auto-rickshaws and ox carts when traveling at night.
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1-12-2008 @ 1:39AM
Wildgoosechase said...
Actually I'm surprised nobody agreed with my previous statement given the number eco-militants that participate. Perhaps they picked up on my sarcasm.
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