India's Dirt-Cheap Nano Aimed at U.S.
Tata, the Indian automaker that owns Land Rover and Jaguar, may bring its super affordable Nano microcar to the U.S. At least that's what the company's CEO Ratan Tata said in a recent interview.
The Nano would go through intensive modifications before being marketed in both the U.S. and Europe, Tata said. It would have to: The current Nano not only has a two-cylinder engine producing just 37 horsepower, but it also wouldn't come close to meeting the rigorous safety regulations in either market.
In 2009, the Nano went on sale for around $3,000 in India, but stories of the car bursting into flames soon made the internet rounds.
This also isn't the first time we've heard Tata claim the Nano would go on sale in the U.S. A company spokesman told U.S. journalists that the Nano would hit U.S. shores by 2011 shortly after it debuted in 2009.
Tata says this next attempt will see the car getting a more powerful engine and more features that U.S. customers demand, but it will be priced under $10,000.
Currently, the 2012 Nissan Versa is the most affordable new car on the market; it starts at $11,770 including $780 in destination. That car is one of the few that still comes standard without power windows or power locks and no air conditioning.
Tata is also devoid of any dealer network in the U.S. Even if there was a demand for the car being able to meet it would be a serious issue to tackle. Chrysler's Fiat brand has been able to launch its one affordable 500 model through a small network of dealerships.
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Good luck. Our market is so competitive, plus you'd be better off getting a small Kia used than a piece of crap Tata .
This is a neat little car, but your right a kia is a good car too. But no matter what they all need tires, and they can get spendy!
It would be very nice to see a simple, basic, affordable car in the market again. But they better get the quality right the first time or it will fail. (Yugo, anyone?) However, I think the bigger obstacle is simple dollars: build an entire new distribution network, then try to pay for it all by selling cars with little profit. I also doubt the ability to meet all US crash / emission standards without designing an all-new car. These are very tough standards to meet.
Even if they pay me I probably wouldn't even drive it.
Do they really have to market it as a "car"?
just get one of those plastic electric car from toys-r-us and youd have more class than driving a nano. i would not be found dead in one of those cars, if you can even call it a car.
Most important question to ask is, can I use it as a golf cart as well as a road car? I could literally save tens of dollars for every round of golf!
Nano to me = NA! NO!
NO way I'd drive that Death Trap. However Matt C's thought of using it as a golf cart would be ok.
If people in America are buying Fiat 500 and Smart ForTwo vehicles, I don't see why this car won't have an opportunity to enter into the US market, we love cheap things, that's a reality, specially in this bad economy, and a new car for under $10000 that's so crazy cheap.
thanks for update.I am very impressed with the article I have just read Auto Car Parts
now cheap car running in USA soon.