Comments on: Tata Motors revs up its Nano plans

The Indian automaker has hefty hopes that the masses will flock to its diminutive Nano, a 10-foot-long "people's car" that'll be in showrooms soon.

[kingrah1]

It has like 10 inch rims!! Its tiny! I love it! It would sell much better if it had a higher top speed tho, it looks like just a town car but if you bring the max speed up then it will be okay for highway driving.

[wth31]

Somehow I doubt there are very many kilometers of "highway" in India....

[holywarrior007]

The Nano version for Europe and possibly for the US will have higher speeds. However, it will come later.

[kcotham]

@holywarrior007
I read about this on another site. The reporter there answered the question as to whether or not it would come to the US by saying that the company had no plans to export it to the US or other developed countries. It's target was developing nations.

[holywarrior007]

@kctham

Yeah the immediate goal of the company is to eye the market in India. However, the company has made it clear that they will also sell a different version of it in Europe by 2011. A Nano Europa prototype was also shown in Geneva Motor show sometime back. However, it won't be coming to the US in near future.

[jormond]

Is it a slow news day or what?

[wth31]

Volkswagen -> People Car ...

[wth31]

Err - People's car

[Vegaman_Dan]

No anti-lock brakes.
No airbags.
60 mph top speed.
Storage space for a briefcase at most in the front 'trunk'.
Motorcyle engine.
33 hp.

But on the plus side, it will get 50 mpg and since you won't have to worry about squeezing the family into this tiny car, you'll get decent mileage without their added weight.

I don't see this ever making it to the US without massive changes that would greatly increase the cost to $10-12K. Keep in mind that India has no safety standards for this vehicle to meet. It *IS* better than the scooters and motorcycles that it is meant to replace for safety, but it should not be confused with a real car.

Still, something that is small as a SMART car and only 1/10th the price is impressive.

[kcotham]

The company has already stated that they have no plans on exporting this to developed nations like the US. For one thing, it'd never pass our emissions and crash test standards. It's target is for people that have no car at all or a motorcycle. They are aiming at big, crowded cities like in India and China and other Asian countries.

[pentest]

Beef up the safety and emissions standards and this car would be perfect for in city driving in the US.

Not everyone needs to compensate with a big engine like you apparently do.

[kcotham]

Just what the world needs, more cars!

[Pishkado]

Next-to-last paragraph: meet "higher" emissions standards? Don't you mean "lower?" (Or, to avoid any ambiguity, how about "more stringent?")

[saggicb]

The standards are higher because the emissions allowed are lower.

btw - India has a vast network of highways and about 67000 KM (40,000 miles) of highways. small compared to the US but its also a smaller country, not to mention, developing

[Dalkorian]

It's so cute, I just want to squish it with my truck. LOL.
:-D

[bandb4]

As with all these small transport vehicles, safety issues are no more of concern than they are with motor-cycles. Low emissions, good economy and overloading restrictions should be highest priorities in my opinion.

[gggg sssss]

at least it is not made in China

[venuesdotorg]

Tata Chairman says: "I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car.".

How many parts of this statement does he hope for? I hope he talks to his marketing department before making more statements...