The Tata Nano is a discontinued city car/microcar made and produced by Indian automaker Tata Motors over a single generation, primarily in India, as an inexpensive rear-engined hatchback intended to appeal to current riders of motorcycles and scooters — with a launch price of ₹100,000 (US$1,300 ) on 10 January 2008.[5]
Tata Motors projected production figures of 250,000 annually at launch. This was not achieved, and various factors led to a decline in sales volume, including delays during the factory relocation from Singur to Sanand, early instances of the Nano catching fire or the perception of the car being unsafe and lacking quality due to cost cutting. Actual sales reached 7,591 for model year 2016-2017. The project lost money, as confirmed by former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and by 2017 Tata Motors management.[6][7]
In 2017, Tata Motors said manufacturing would continue due to the company's emotional commitment to the project.[8][9] Production was eventually halted in May 2018.[10] The Sanand Plant now produces other hatchbacks like Tiago and Tigor.[11]
History
After successfully launching the low cost Tata Ace truck in 2005, Tata Motors began development of an affordable passenger car that would appeal to the many Indians who ride motorcycles.[12] The purchase price of this no frills auto was brought down by dispensing with most nonessential features, reducing the amount of steel used in its construction, and relying on low cost Indian labour.[citation needed]. This led to reductions like the passenger's side wing mirror, one wiper blade, only three lug nuts per wheel or removal of the fuel filler cap from the tank.[13] Tata said it was the first time a 2-cylinder petrol engine was being used in a car with single balancer shaft.
At introduction the Nano received much media attention due to its low price of 1 lakh rupees (Rs. 100,000).[14] Some promotional material labeled the vehicle as "The People’s Car".[15]
Expectations and effects
Expectations created for the car during the run up to its production were commented as being out of proportion with realised sales. A 2008 study by Indian rating agency CRISIL projected the Nano would expand the nation's car market by 65%,[16] but, as of late 2012, news reports have detailed the underwhelming response of the Indian consumer to the offering; sales in the first two fiscal years after the car's unveiling remained steady at about 70,000 units. Tata intended to maintain a capacity to produce the car in much larger quantities, some 250,000 per year, should the need arise.[17]
It was anticipated that its 2009 debut would greatly affect the used car market, and prices did drop 25–30% prior to the launch.[18] Sales of the Nano's nearest competitor, the Maruti 800, fell by 20% immediately following the unveiling of the Nano.[19] It is unknown if the Nano has had a lasting effect on the prices of and demand for close substitutes. In July 2012, Tata's Group chairman Ratan Tata, who retired in January 2014, said that the car had immense potential in the developing world while admitting that early opportunities were wasted due to initial problems.[20] Due to the sales drops, only a single unit was produced in June 2018. The Sanand Plant now produces other hatchbacks like Tiago and Tigor.[21]
Tata Motors announced in 2006 that the Nano would be manufactured in Singur, West Bengal.[22] Local farmers soon began protesting the 'supposed' forced acquisition of their land the new factory entailed.[22] Tata first delayed the Nano launch and later decided to build the car in a different state, Gujarat, instead.[23]
Price
Rear
Announced as the most affordable production car in the world, Tata aimed for a price of one lakhrupees, or ₹100,000, which was approximately $1,334.48 US at the time.[24] Only the very first customers were able to purchase the car at that price, and as of 2017, the price for the basic Nano started around ₹ 215,000.[25] Increasing material costs may be to blame for this rapid rise in price.[26]
Compared to the Volkswagen Beetle it had a relatively low price, though still high in terms of the average salary of an Indian industrial worker or farmer. In 1990, a Beetle from Mexican factories was priced at $5,300,[27] about $11,872 in 2022. The Ford Model T's initial price was about $850, equivalent to $27,685 in 2022. The price of the Nano was only just higher[28] than the corrected price of the Briggs & Stratton Flyer of the 1910s, with the Flyer costing US$125 ($1,767 in 2016), while the Flyer might be classified as more of a go-kart than a car.
Cost-cutting features
The Nano's design implements many measures to reduce manufacturing costs. Comparison with the Maruti Alto 800, the Tata Nano's closest competitor:
Tata Nano
Maruti Alto 800
The Nano's trunk was only accessible from inside the car, as the rear hatch does not open,[29] but it eventually received a full hatchback in 2015.
Maruti 800 initially had only an opening rear-windscreen, but later got a full hatchback.
One windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair[14]
Two windscreen wipers.
No base power steering due to light weight.[14] Added in higher variants in later models.
Front passenger seat same as the driver seat and the headrests are integrated.
Front passenger seat same as the driver seat, but headrests separate. Later models switched to integrated headrests.
Thinner 135/70-R12 space saver spare tyre.
Full size spare tyre.
No external fuel filler cap. Fuel inlet is accessed by opening the front hood.
External fuel filler cap.
Front door power windows only offered on highest variant. PW switches placed on central console rather than on door pads.
Front door power windows only offered on highest variant.
Technical specifications
The Nano (2012) was a 38 PS (28 kW; 37 hp) car with a two-cylinder 624 cc engine mounted in the rear of the car. The car complied with Bharat Stage 4 Indian Emissions Standards, which are roughly equivalent to Euro 4.
The development of the Nano led to 31 design and 37 technology patents being filed.
Tata Nano engine in trunk that is only accessible from inside as a cost reduction featureThe Tata Nano's dashboard is very simple.The car's exterior and interiors were designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering.[12]
Tata GenX Nano (2015–2018)
2015 Tata GenX Nano (facelift)
In May 2015, to revive the model's sales, Tata Motors introduced a series of enhancements both inside and outside the car. The name was changed to GenX Nano to underline the changes, the range was offered in 21 different versions, among them a 5-speed automated manual transmission.[35] Electric power steering, air conditioning, and Bluetooth radio were available on top models in addition to new colors and alloy wheels. The body was strengthened and the front and rear bumpers were changed, which slightly increased the length to 3,164 millimeters. The interior was also redesigned with new fabrics and improved soundproofing. The rear opening door and the 5-seat homologation were introduced. The engine remained the 2-cylinder 624 cc (38.1 cu in) with 38 hp.[36][37]
Alternative power plants
The Nano was driven by a petrol engine. Though several variants were proposed, none were put into production. An upscale version was shown at an auto show.
Compressed-air engine
Tata Motors signed an agreement in 2007 with a French firm, Motor Development International, to produce a compressed air car Nano.[38] While the vehicle was supposed to be able to travel approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) on $3 US of electricity to compress the air, Tata's Vice-President of Engineering Systems confirmed in late 2009 that vehicle range continued to be a problem.[38][39]
Electric vehicle
Tata discussed the possibility of producing an electric version,[40] and while it showcased an electric vehicle Nano at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show,[41] no such car came onto the market.
If an EV Nano had been produced the expectations were that it would have been a highly affordable electric car[42] using lithium-ion batteries and having a range of 80 miles (130 km).[43] A Norwegian electric car specialist, Miljøbil Grenland AS, was named as a proposed partner in the project.[40]
Tata Nano CNG emax (Bi-fuel)
The Nano CNG emax was launched in October 2013. It could run on either gasoline or compressed natural gas. Initially, it was to be sold in Delhi and parts of Maharashtra and Lucknow, where CNG was available at fuel outlets.[44] The bifuel engine was powered by both CNG and petrol. In natural gas operation, the engine delivered maximum power of 33 horsepower and 45 Nm of maximum torque. The tank had a capacity of 32 liters (8 US Gal/7 UK Gal) of CNG.[45]
Tata Super Nano
In December 2014, Coimbatore-based JA Motorsport presented a 230 hp 1.3-liter engined version of the Nano called the 'Super Nano' at the Autocar Performance Show. Featuring a full body kit, slick tyres, a bolt-on roll cage, and smoked head and tail lamps, the Super Nano featured carbon fibre components, Recaro seats, and steering-mounted paddle shifters.[46]
An upscale Nano concept car called Nano Europa was shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.[47] However, there was no progress towards producing or marketing this upscale specification.
Car fires
There were reports of several fire incidents involving the Nano.[48] The company denied those were connected to the car's design or its parts and blamed "foreign electrical equipment" found on top of the exhaust system.[48] The company offered to retrofit the exhaust and electrical systems but refused to recall the cars.[48] Tata extended the warranty on the car, including those already sold, from 18 months to four years in early December 2010.[48]
Reception
The Nano received a mixed reception from Indian consumers; reasons given included that it was still too expensive compared to a motorcycle, and the extended waiting time for delivery (a few months).[49] Although it was identified as the most affordable car,[50] a secondhand car that was more expensive when it was new gave more social status; the Nano was considered a "poor man's" vehicle, turning some people away.[51] The fires and other safety issues were also a concern.[49]
Tata Motors ended FY16 selling 21,012 Nanos, up from 16,901 in FY15.[52]
Crash safety
In 2014, Global NCAP crash-tested an Indian-market Tata Nano at the ADAC facility in Germany in its pilot round of 64km/h front offset deformable barrier crash tests for its Safer Cars for India project (similar to Latin NCAP 2013). They also crashed the Nano in the configuration for the UN's R94 test. Tata had made it public that a version of the Nano designed for export to Europe had passed R94, and they were also expecting a four star Euro NCAP result.[53] In contrast, the Indian car failed the R94 test and scored zero stars for adult and child occupant protection in Global NCAP's tests. The Nano was not fitted with airbags, not even one for the driver, nor ABS. During the 64km/h NCAP test the passenger compartment not only became unstable but also showed extremely high levels of intrusion of the steering column and waist-level intrusion of the A-pillar, showing high risk of life-threatening injury to the driver's head, neck and chest and also indicating that less critical body regions like the knees, tibias and feet were unlikely to be recoverable. The Nano had only static two-point seatbelts for the rear seats and no child seat available for sale in India could pass the installation check, meaning that the Nano was unsuitable for safely transporting children. It achieved zero stars for child occupant protection, scoring no points across all areas of assessment.[54][55]
Sales
At the time of launch Tata Motors planned to sell 250,000 units per year. The maximum sales ever achieved was 74,527 units during FY 2011-2012 and then sales declined rapidly year after year leading to a negligible market share of the car in the "A" segment. The product was expected to be phased out soon as dealers stopped placing orders.[56][57]
Due to the low sales of the model (only one Nano was assembled in June 2018 against the 275 assembled in June 2017) Tata Motors announced the end of production without any direct successor. The Nano was never really appreciated by the public and sales were always lower than expected.[63]
The Sanand Plant now produces other hatchbacks like Tiago and Tigor.[64]
Awards
2010 Business Standard Motoring Indian car of the year[65]
^ abMeredith, Robyn (19 April 2007). "The Next People Car". Forbes. Yahoo! – ABC News Network. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
^For only first customers receiving ₹ 100,000, see Krishnan, Janaki (16 July 2009). "Tata Motors to deliver first Nano on Friday". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 6 June 2012. Many Indians were of the opinion that Tata just managed to offer offered a four-wheeled auto-rickshaw for a price of INR 2,00,000.
^"National Geographic - Megafactories - Season 1, Episode "Tato Nano"". www.natgeotv.com. 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2024. Sir Ratan Tata is a man on a mission: to make India's roads safer by getting people off motorbikes and into the world's cheapest car - the Tata Nano. In India it's common to see a family of four ride together on a motorbike. On bad roads in Monsoon rain that's a lethal way to commute. Tata envisages the Nano as a 'people's car' - India's answer to the Model T. But to bring his car to the people he must overcome some formidable challenges. Design issues and skyrocketing costs threaten to blow out the car's $2200 price tag, and violent protests force him to dismantle and shift his 3 billion dollar Megafactory 2100km across India.
