4.3.09

The Tata Nano Europa


Days after announcing that the Nano, pegged as the cheapest car in the world, will be launched in India on March 23, Tata Motors unveiled the car’s international version Tata Nano Europa - at the 79th Geneva Motor Show. Also on display were Tata Prima, a concept next generation luxury sedan designed by Italian car designer and contract manufacturer Pininfarina and the Tata Indica Vista EV, an electric vehicle. The ‘Tata Nano Europa’, intended for a future launch in select international markets, will be powered by a 3-cylinder sporty all-aluminium multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) engine matched with a 5-speed automatic transmission, and electric power steering, the company said in a release. According to sources, the Nano could be launched in the global markets by this year-end. The company will sell the Nano in Europe for 5,000 euros ($6,316), Bild newspaper reported last week, quoting an interview with Tata chairman. An email query sent to the company went unanswered. The international version of the Nano is more powerful and bigger in size than its Indian counterpart. It is 0.19 metres longer in length and 0.08 metres broader in width compared to the Indian version. The Indian version of Nano will have an all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, multipoint fuel injection (MPFI) petrol engine.
Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, said, “The Nano has generated wide interest in developed countries, since its unveiling in Delhi and its presentation here last year. We are delighted to present the Nano Europa for future launch in such markets.” However, Tata did not specify a date for the international launch.
In India, the Nano will be on display at company dealerships from the first week of April, while the booking will start from the second week of April. The car is expected to cost at Rs 1.20 lakh on-road (basic model) in Mumbai. The diesel variant will come in later. However, capacity constraint is expected to play the spoilsport for the company. “One needs to see how the company will deal with capacity constraint as the demand in domestic market alone is expected to outcast the supply,” said VG Ramakrishnan, director, automotive and transportation, Frost & Sullivan, South Asia and Middle East. Around 40,000-50,000 Nano can be produced by the company by this year-end from the make-shift plant facility at its existing plants in Pune and Pantnagar together till Nano’s motherplant at Sanand in Gujarat is built. The Sanand plant will have an installed capacity of producing 2,50,000 cars per annum and expandable to up to 5,00,000 cars per annum.
Last year, Pininfarina S.p.A had signed a letter of intent with the Tatas for setting up a research, design and engineering centre in Pune. Currently, Pininfarina is working with International Cars & Motors Ltd in India on ‘The World Car’ project. Pininfarina famous for its work for Ferrari, the company is associated with almost all of the big brands in the market including Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Volvo, Jaguar, General Motors, Honda, among others.

No comments:

Post a Comment