A Nano step for mankind (World's cheapest car goes on sale today at $2,500)

Mid-Day Mumbai ^ | March 23, 2009 | Aditya Anand

[Aroostook25]

It’s better than a scooter which is the other cheap option.

[kingu]

100,000 Indian Rupees is $1981.76 on this morning’s spot market, though I’ll wager that the 2050 number included adjusted price of the models presently available for purchase.

[agere_contra]

Good for the Indians!

[Cronos]

I try to explain to the whiners I meet the vast advantages we enjoy in comparison to the Third World but I usually make no impression

Quite true -- poverty in the US is like if you have only 1 TV. And the poor still whine. Should show them slumdog millionnaire to know what real destitution is like...

[Cronos]

it’s got a rear enginee that’s only 700 cc — pretty tiny, definitely NOT for the US as it’s top speed is only about 50 mph. But it makes a lot of sense for rural and urban communities in the third world and THAT is the target market. Any sales in the developed world will be just additional good news.

[traviskicks]

LOL

[wolf78]

It wasn’t designed for you and me, it was made for someone who now has an oxcart or a water buffalo for transportation.

More like for those who use a Vespa now and will probably sell the Vespa to the guy with the water buffalo. But compared to a scooter, even a Nano is a huge improvement.

Also many seem to forget what a terrible car the Ford model T actually was, yet it was cheap and started an American industry that lasted a hundred years (before it went belly up).

[Vanders9]

True true.

[bert]

[capt. norm]

A few years ago I bought a moped that was made in India.

It started falling apart in less than one month and at the end of three months, I could no longer keep up with the repairs and parts replacement needed to keep it running.

It was mechanically the opposite of my Toyota Camry.

[Onelifetogive]

The world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano...

As appealing as Nano Tatas...

[Brad from Tennessee]

[slumdog millionaire]

HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET BUT MY DAUGHTER LOVED IT AND SAID I NEED TO SEE IT.

[Aroostook25]

Yes, the Ford Model T was similar in size and weight to the Tata Nano

Tata Nano
Weight: 1300 lbs
Engine: 623 cc 33 hp
Length: 122 in (3.1 meters)
Width: : 59 in (1.5 meters)
Fuel mileage: 50 mpg

Ford Model T
Weight: 1200 lbs
Engine: 2.9L 4 cylinders 20 hp
Length: 130 in (3.3 meters)
Width: : 60 in (1.5 meters)
Fuel mileage: 13 to 21 mpg

[wolf78]

Interestingly, if you look a step above the Nano, you can actually build a pretty decent car for $6,000, or at least Renault can. It's called the Dacia Logan (sedan) / Dacia Sandero (hatchback) and manufactured in Romania.



It's no BMW, but at least it has everything we came to expect from a car like crumple zones and a top speed of 100 mph.

[Aroostook25]

Apparently the Renault Dacia Logan is not available in the USA, but it can be had in Mexico as the Nissan Aprio.

[wolf78]

Fascinating, I didn’t know that. But makes sense to me, as Renault owns much of Nissan. At 8,000 dolares estadounidenses a bit more expensive though.

[Cronos]

The mileage of 58 mpg is quite impressive and good for an inner-city car.

[SunkenCiv]

Just 2,000 units of the car will be ready today. According to dealers, the company expects to produce 1,000 to 1,500 Nanos in April. This will go up to 2,000 in May, 3,000 in June and 4,000 by July. From September, Tata Motors wants to manufacture 7,000 cars a month.