Tata Nano launches; bookings start in April, deliveries in July
Mar 23, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Tata Nano
The Tata Nano has finally got a concrete on-sale date at yesterday’s glitzy launch party, sidestepping the myriad of hurdles plaguing the project since last year. With a base price tag of a magical Indian Rupees 100000 (1 lac), which translates to less than $2000 at current exchange rates, hundreds of thousands are expected to put their name down for a Nano, including many Indian middle class families previously limited to motorbikes or public transport.
The Nano comes with a 624cc 2 cylinder engine and while its claimed 25 kmpl (56 mpg) fuel efficiency may have otherwise put a smile on the face of environmentalists, the expected huge numbers to be sold may make a not so negligible contribution to India’s oil import bills and the congestion and air pollution in its cities.
One can book the car between April 9 and 25 and it is expected to be delivered in July. With demand set to far outstrip supply, the first 100,000 owners will be picked at random, till a new plant in Gujarat, India comes onstream next year. The Nano can be booked at more than 30,000 locations in 1,000 cities across India, including Tata’s department and electronics stores, with booking forms costing 300 rupees ($6). It can also be booked online (www.tatanano.com).
The Nano has and is going to have a profound environmental, social and economic impact. Read the rest of this entry »
