Tata Nano
Overview
Manufacturer	Tata Motors
Also called	lakhtakia (in local parlance)
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), India[1], Charodi (Gujarat), India[2]
Designer	Girish Wagh,[3] styling by Justin Norek of Trilix, under Pierre Castinel and the co. chairman Ratan Tata[4]
Body and chassis
Class	City car
Body style	4-door one-box
Layout	RR layout
Powertrain
Engine	2 cylinder SOHC petrol Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 624 cc (38 cu in)
Transmission	4 speed synchromesh with overdrive in 4th
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,230 mm (87.8 in)[5]
Length	3,099 mm (122.0 in)[5]
Width	1,495 mm (58.9 in)[5]
Height	1,652 mm (65.0 in)[5]
Kerb weight	600 kg (1,300 lb)–635 kg (1,400 lb)[5]

"I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family...(which would) bring the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families."

— Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Motors

“A Peoples car” has been a dream for many countries. A century ago, what Henry Ford achieved with his Model T, and Hitler attempted with Volkswagen in Germany, India too, much earlier, tried to bring in the Maruti-800, with Suzuki's help for the masses, way back in 1981.^[6] But the motivation for Ratan Tata, past the year 2000, for this, was after observing the pathetic condition of traffic on India's roads. Much before it even went past the draftsman's table, he publicised a never-attempted- price-ever of ₹ one-lakh or under $3,000! And shrugging off the naysayers and the sceptics, to cut a long story short,^[4] when it did get past its birth pangs a few years later in 2009, although the price has shot up a bit, the Nano does remain the lowest priced four-wheeled passenger vehicle in India. That it is still, significantly way beyond the means of an average motorcycle owner, the means of cheap transport in the country for millions, does throw the challenge back at the very outset, of servicing the bottom of the pyramid of the market.

After having successfully launched the low cost Tata Ace truck in 2005, Tata Motors began development of an affordable car that would appeal to the many Indians who drive motorcycles.^[7] The purchase price of this no frills auto was brought down by dispensing with most nonessential features, reducing the amount of steel used in its construction, and relying on low cost Indian labor.^{[citation needed]}

The introduction of the Nano received much media attention due to its low price.^[8]

One study, by Indian rating agency CRISIL, thought the Nano would expand the nation's car market by 65%.^[9]

It was anticipated that its 2009 launch would greatly affect the used car market, and prices did drop 25-30% in the lead up to the launch.^[10] Sales of the Nano's nearest competitor, the Maruti 800, dropped by 20% immediately following the unveiling of the Nano.^[11] It is unknown if the Nano has had a lasting effect on the prices of and demand for close substitutes, however. In July 2012, TATA Group Chairman, Rattan Tata while admitting that NANO wasted an early opportunity due to initial problems, said that it has an immense potential in the developing world. ^[12]

Tata Motors announced in 2006 that the Nano would be manufactured in Singur, West Bengal.^[13] Local farmers soon began protesting the forced acquisition of their land the new factory entailed.^[13] Tata first delayed the Nano launch and later decided to build the car in a different state (Gujarat) instead.^[14]

Announced as the least expensive production car in the world, Tata aimed for a price of one lakh rupees, or ₹100,000, which was approximately $2,000 US at the time.^[15] Only the very first customers were able to purchase the car at that price, however, and, as of 2012, the price for the basic Nano is around ₹ 150,000.^[16] Increasing material costs may be to blame for this rapid rise in price.^[17]

Comparing with Volkswagen Beetle it has relatively lower price, for example the price of this model was $5,300 in the 1990, from Mexico factory(in 2012 inflation dollars: 9313).^[18]. The Ford Model T initial price was about 850$(circa today 21,000$)^[19]

The Nano's design implements many measures that make its manufacture cheap.

• The Nano's trunk is only accessible from inside the car, as the rear hatch does not open.^[20]
• One windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair^[8]
• No power steering, unnecessary due to its light weight^[8]
• Three lug nuts on the wheels instead of the usual four^[21]
• Only one wing mirror^[8]
• Radio or CD player is optional^[8]
• No airbags on any model^[22]
• 624cc rear engine has only 2 cylinders^[8]
• No air conditioning in base model^[8]

The Nano (2012) is a 38 PS (28 kW; 37 hp) car with a two-cylinder 624 cc rear engine.

The car complies with BS4 Indian emission standards and can also meet European emission standards as well.

The development of the Nano had led to 31 Design and 37 Technology patents being filed

While the Nano is driven by a petrol engine, several more-radical powerplants have been proposed but not put into production. Also, an upscale version was shown at an autoshow.

Tata Motors signed an agreement in 2007 with a French firm, Motor Development International, to produce a compressed air car Nano.^[28] While the vehicle was supposed to be able to travel approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) on $3 US of electricity to compress the air, Tata's Vice President of Engineering Systems confirmed in late 2009 that vehicle range continues to be a problem.^[29][28]

A website has speculated that the Nano might be made available with a diesel engine.^[30] Tata motors have not confirmed this but have stated, "As of now there is no Diesel variant of the Nano. The Nano is only available in a Petrol version."^[31]

Tata has discussed the possibility of producing an electric version,^[32] and while it showcased an electric vehicle Nano at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show,^[33] no such car is currently on the market.

If an EV Nano is sold it is expected to be the "world's cheapest electric car",^[34] use lithium-ion batteries, and have a range of 80 miles (130 km).^[35] A Norwegian electric car specialist, Miljøbil Grenland AS, has been named as a supposed partner in the project.^[32]

An upscale Nano concept car called the Europa was shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.^[36]

There were reports of several fire incidents involving the Nano.^[37] The company denied those were connected to the car’s design or its parts and blamed “foreign electrical equipment” found on top of the exhaust system.^[37] The company offered to retrofit the exhaust and electrical systems but refused to recall the cars.^[37] The company extended the warranty on the car, including those already sold, from 18 months to four years in early December 2010.^[37]

The Nano has received a tepid reception from Indian consumers, who may prefer to drive motorcycles or second hand small cars (especially Maruti) which are available at much cheaper prices and often access vastly better service networks.^{[citation needed]}

• 2010 Business Standard Motoring Indian car of the year^[38]
• 2010 Bloomberg UTV-Autocar car of the year^[39]
• 2010 Edison Awards, first place in the transportation category^[40]
• 2010 Good Design Awards, in the category of transportation ^[41]

• Small Wonder: The Making of Nano–a book about the creation of the Tata Nano.^[42]
• A Megafactories episode on this vehicle.

• City car
• Tata Ace
• Tata Magic Iris
• Bajaj RE60

• Tata Nano - Official product page