Global carmakers thought it was impossible for us Indians to give the world a global car, meeting global safety and emission standards at an irresistible price tag of Rs.1 lakh. Undoubtly the world’s cheapest till date. The nearest international competitor for the Nano is the QQ, made in China manufactured by Chery Motors
On January 10th, this year this impossible dream became a stunning reality when Mr. Ratan Tata unveiled the Tata Nano at Delhi’s 9th Auto Expo.
Big Deal! Most critics might guffaw but what makes Nano a small milestone in the automobile history in times of soaring oil prices and climate change is its fuel efficient 623 cc rear mounted petrol engine which will deliver (as mentioned officially) a 20 km per litre equation. It is also Bharat Stage III (Euro III) compliant and can meet tough Euro IV norms when finalized. Tata Motors has applied for 34 different patents just for this car. They say the Nano though is very compact, has 21 percent more space inside than the Maruti 800.
Finally the message that is delivered to all is - we can and will design/deliver automobiles from start to finished product and even make it affordable to the masses. In fact once Nano revs into the showrooms it will invite a completely new set of customers. The mushrooming Indian middle class in absence of a good public transport system will quickly grab this opportunity to own their personal form of transportation.
All the biker’s will now possibly graduate to ‘nano’owners.. This has already scared the enviromentalists and the socially awakened people. Considering more than a million two wheelers per year hitting the road, chances of even 30-40 % of these switching to Nano owners is a cause to worry naturally.
The Tata’s have mentioned though that the ‘Nano’ does not have an A/C or even a radio, forget power steering. But saving grace like slick stylish seats and all steel monovolume body make the Nano a triumph of sorts. If an towering personality like Mr.Ratan Tata can easily fit into his own creation effortlessly then for us lesser mortals of average heights it is big enough.
But what seems to be of paramount importance to know for all of us is that Ratan Tata’s
Nano is a concept started as a social issue and not as business or philanthropy ( Ratan Tata’s own words). He had put his faith in a young and dynamic team. The team behind nano is in the age group of 30 – 35 years. If one has followed the business graph of the Tata’s then it is clear that the Tatas had gone through good and bad times. They are a business group who always gave a lot to charity. They are not in the company of others who break the law and encourage corruption. Rest of the business fraternity always thought they were foolish and suicidal not to be a part of that clan.
But India has changed for the better. The new India comprises of strong, bold and a vocal middle class that is becoming more honest above else and that has contempt for the same old sleazy politicians and shrewd capitalists of old.
When we see Ratan Tata refusing to pay bribes, refusing to be wooed by dirty politicians and refusing to bend the rules and still taking the Tatas from strength to strength, still buying the world’s best companies and still reinventing the rules of the car industry, well then we know that there is a better world. It is possible to be honest and principled. And still beat the rest of the world.
On January 10th, this year this impossible dream became a stunning reality when Mr. Ratan Tata unveiled the Tata Nano at Delhi’s 9th Auto Expo.
Big Deal! Most critics might guffaw but what makes Nano a small milestone in the automobile history in times of soaring oil prices and climate change is its fuel efficient 623 cc rear mounted petrol engine which will deliver (as mentioned officially) a 20 km per litre equation. It is also Bharat Stage III (Euro III) compliant and can meet tough Euro IV norms when finalized. Tata Motors has applied for 34 different patents just for this car. They say the Nano though is very compact, has 21 percent more space inside than the Maruti 800.
Finally the message that is delivered to all is - we can and will design/deliver automobiles from start to finished product and even make it affordable to the masses. In fact once Nano revs into the showrooms it will invite a completely new set of customers. The mushrooming Indian middle class in absence of a good public transport system will quickly grab this opportunity to own their personal form of transportation.
All the biker’s will now possibly graduate to ‘nano’owners.. This has already scared the enviromentalists and the socially awakened people. Considering more than a million two wheelers per year hitting the road, chances of even 30-40 % of these switching to Nano owners is a cause to worry naturally.
The Tata’s have mentioned though that the ‘Nano’ does not have an A/C or even a radio, forget power steering. But saving grace like slick stylish seats and all steel monovolume body make the Nano a triumph of sorts. If an towering personality like Mr.Ratan Tata can easily fit into his own creation effortlessly then for us lesser mortals of average heights it is big enough.
But what seems to be of paramount importance to know for all of us is that Ratan Tata’s
Nano is a concept started as a social issue and not as business or philanthropy ( Ratan Tata’s own words). He had put his faith in a young and dynamic team. The team behind nano is in the age group of 30 – 35 years. If one has followed the business graph of the Tata’s then it is clear that the Tatas had gone through good and bad times. They are a business group who always gave a lot to charity. They are not in the company of others who break the law and encourage corruption. Rest of the business fraternity always thought they were foolish and suicidal not to be a part of that clan.
But India has changed for the better. The new India comprises of strong, bold and a vocal middle class that is becoming more honest above else and that has contempt for the same old sleazy politicians and shrewd capitalists of old.
When we see Ratan Tata refusing to pay bribes, refusing to be wooed by dirty politicians and refusing to bend the rules and still taking the Tatas from strength to strength, still buying the world’s best companies and still reinventing the rules of the car industry, well then we know that there is a better world. It is possible to be honest and principled. And still beat the rest of the world.
That’s the strength of the new India. And for all you know the young and the new India will go for the Nano despite some of its flaw.
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