Tata Nano Bound for Europe
February 12, 2008

By Nick Kurczewski
 
Launched at the New Delhi Auto Expo to a frenzy of worldwide interest, the Tata Nano city-car is coming to Europe within four years, according to Reuters. 

The Nano was the unequivocal star of the New Delhi Auto Expo in early January, where it was announced the car’s Indian-market price will begin at only “1-lakh,” the equivalent of $2,500. About the only thing louder than the waves of applause during the Nano’s debut was the sound of other automotive executives’ jaws hitting the floor.

Other carmakers — such as Renault, Hyundai, Toyota and General Motors — have since been scrambling to announce similar plans to build super-cheap economy cars for developing markets such as India, China and Africa.

The four-passenger Nano will be produced at a new plant in West Bengal. Indian sales should begin sometime in the late summer or early autumn of this year. Export plans were vaguely addressed during the New Delhi Auto Expo, though it would seem work is well under way to bring the Indian-built hatchback to Western markets.

According to Reuters, Girish Wagh, head of compact car projects at Tata Motors, confirmed to German magazine Focus the Nano would reach Europe within four years. "We will develop a successor model in four years' time which will meet the Euro 5 emission regulations and the crash standards in Europe," Wagh was quoted as saying. Tata Motors representatives were unavailable to comment on the report.

If the story is to be believed, the first Nanos to arrive in Europe will already be second-generation models. The current Nano is rear-engined and rear-wheel drive. Power is delivered by a 34 horsepower 623cc aluminum twin-cylinder gas-powered engine. The engine meets Euro III emissions standards, which are about 3 to 4 years behind current European regulations.

According to Reuters, Wagh was also quoted as saying the Nano’s fuel consumption has been a key issue. “The main target was to reduce the car's fuel consumption to three from currently five liters per 100 kilometers (62.5 miles)," Wagh told the magazine.

During the New Delhi Auto Expo safety issues were raised regarding the airbag-less Nano. Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, explained the Nano has passed Indian full-frontal crash tests and has been designed to meet international offset and side-impact crash tests.

Ratan Tata said airbags and other options could easily be added for more demanding markets outside India. He was equally careful to mention that extra features would raise the Nano’s price. The Nano makes its European debut in early March, at the upcoming Geneva auto show. Perhaps by then Tata will discuss whether the Nano also has a future in the U.S.

Posted by Michelle Krebs at 10:58 AM under Companies , News , Personalities | Comments (0) | digg this | Seed Newsvine