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WORLD'S CHEAPEST CAR NOW MADE IN INDIA

The much awaited "People's car" with a promised price tag of Rs. 1 lakh (Rupees 0.1 million excluding taxes, equivalent to 2,500 US Dollars) was unveiled on 10th January 2008 at Auto Expo 2008 at New Delhi by Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Motors Ltd.

It was a dream conceived and a promise made 4 years ago by Ratan Tata and the car christened Nano was rolled into the limelight amidst an overflowing media from India and abroad.

The Nano, driven by an all-aluminium 2 cylinder 623 cc rear mounted petrol engine, is promised to deliver 20 km per litre of petrol and would conform to national emission and safety standards. In India where an established and popular brand of a motor cycle or a scooter costs any where between Rs. 38,000 to 55,000 the 4-seater car at just above twice the cost has already kindled a lot of enthusiasm amidst middle class.

"Through Nano, which denotes high technology and small size, I have tried to provide a reliable mode of transport to every Indian family; a safe, affordable and an all weather transport a people's car, designed to meet all safety standards and emission laws and accessible to all" says Ratan Tata, the doyen of Indian Automobile Industry, whose Tata Motors is the largest producer of cars of indigenous technology.

This compact looking car, measuring 3.1 meter in length, 1.5 meter in width and 1.6 meter in height is about 80% smaller than its closest competitor Maruti (whose lowest model M800 costs almost twice the price). However, inside the cabin Nano is stated to be 21 percent more roomy than Maruti. The other salient features of the car includes rear wheel drive, multi-point fuel injection system, minimal instruments (speedometer, fuel gage and oil light), all sheet metal body, 4-doors, seat belts and a front luggage compartment.

The regular production of the car is slated to begin from the second half of the current year, from Tata's new plant at Singur, West Bengal. Construction of the plant is going on at full swing.

Once regular production starts, more variants of the car (deluxe models) at higher prices are expected to be offered. There are long term plans to offer the car at the international market.

While the excitement about Nano is reverberating across India, there are apprehensions too on the impact of the flooding of the cars on the already over-congested and battered Indian roads.

Learn more about this author, C.V.Rajan.
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