Tata is also believed to be making an electric version of the Nano, called the E-Nano (reportedly with attached or sideby solar panels as well)[23][65] which might well turn out to be the "world's cheapest electric car"[66] which is more eco-friendly and has many enthusiasts and media for its support.[67] It's supposed to be as cheap as the conventional gasoline version. Tata is making the Nano compliant with export market regulations[68] and plans to export such a car worldwide, particularly to the UK and the rest of continental Europe,[69][70] the US,[71] and Australia.[72][73][74][75]
Economic Times reported[76] that the "electric Nano" "would still make good sense for economic, clean and green personal mobility in countries around the world." According to the Hamburg-based newspaper, Auto Bild, the E-Nano would be built in cooperation with the Norwegian electric car specialist, Miljøbil Grenland AS.[77] [78][79][80
Friday, April 24, 2009
Compressed-air engine
Tata Motors is working with a French firm on using compressed air as an energy source.[52] The company has tied up with Moteur Development International (MDI) for this purpose.[32]
Diesel
Wheelsunplugged.com reported that an anonymous source claimed a diesel variant would be available in September 2009
Technical specifications
According to Tata Group's Chairman Ratan Tata, the Nano is a 33 PS (33 hp/24 kW) car with a 623 cc rear engine and rear wheel drive, and has a fuel economy of 4.55 L/100 km (21.97 km/L, 51.7 mpg (US), 62 mpg (UK)) under city road conditions, and 3.85 L/100 km on highways ( 25.974 km/L, 61.1 mpg (US), 73.3 mpg (UK)). It is the first time a two-cylinder non-opposed petrol engine will be used in a car with a single balance shaft.[48] Tata Motors has reportedly filed 34 patents related to the innovations in the design of Nano, with powertrain accounting for over half of them.[49] The project head, Girish Wagh has been credited with being one of the brains behind Nano's design.[49][50]
Much has been made of Tata's patents pending for the Nano. Yet during a news conference at the New Delhi Auto Expo, Ratan Tata pointed out none of these is revolutionary or represents earth-shaking technology. He said most relate to rather mundane items such as the two-cylinder engine’s balance shaft, and how the gears were cut in the transmission.
Though the car has been appreciated by many sources, including Reuters due to "the way it has tweaked existing technologies to target an as-yet untapped segment of the market", yet it has been stated by the same sources that Nano is not quite "revolutionary in its technology", just low in price.[51] Moreover, technologies which are expected of the new and yet-to-be-released car include a revolutionary compressed-air fuel system[52] and an eco-friendly electric-version,[23] technologies on which Tata is reportedly already working, though no official incorporation-date for these technologies in the new car has been released.
According to Tata, the Nano complies with Bharat Stage-III and Euro-IV emission standards.[53] Ratan Tata also said, 'The car has passed the full-frontal crash and the side impact crash'.[54] Tata Nano passed the required 'homologation’ tests with Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).This means that the car has met all the specified criteria for roadworthiness laid out by the government including emissions or noise & vibration and can now ply on Indian roads. Tata Nano managed to score around 24 km per litre during its ‘homologation’ tests with ARAI. This makes Tata Nano the most fuel efficient car in India. Nano will be the first car in India to display the actual fuel mileage figures it recorded at ARAI’s tests on its windshield. According to ARAI it conforms to Euro IV emission standards which will come into effect in India in 2010.[55]
Rear mounted engine
The use of a rear mounted engine to help maximize interior space makes the Nano similar to the original Fiat 500, another technically innovative "people's car". A concept vehicle similar in styling to the Nano, also with rear engined layout was proposed by the UK Rover Group in the 1990s to succeed the original Mini but was not put into production.[56] The eventual new Mini was much larger and technically conservative. The independent, and now-defunct, MG Rover Group later based their Rover CityRover on the Tata Indica.
Tata is also reported to be contemplating offering a compressed air engine as an option.[
Much has been made of Tata's patents pending for the Nano. Yet during a news conference at the New Delhi Auto Expo, Ratan Tata pointed out none of these is revolutionary or represents earth-shaking technology. He said most relate to rather mundane items such as the two-cylinder engine’s balance shaft, and how the gears were cut in the transmission.
Though the car has been appreciated by many sources, including Reuters due to "the way it has tweaked existing technologies to target an as-yet untapped segment of the market", yet it has been stated by the same sources that Nano is not quite "revolutionary in its technology", just low in price.[51] Moreover, technologies which are expected of the new and yet-to-be-released car include a revolutionary compressed-air fuel system[52] and an eco-friendly electric-version,[23] technologies on which Tata is reportedly already working, though no official incorporation-date for these technologies in the new car has been released.
According to Tata, the Nano complies with Bharat Stage-III and Euro-IV emission standards.[53] Ratan Tata also said, 'The car has passed the full-frontal crash and the side impact crash'.[54] Tata Nano passed the required 'homologation’ tests with Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).This means that the car has met all the specified criteria for roadworthiness laid out by the government including emissions or noise & vibration and can now ply on Indian roads. Tata Nano managed to score around 24 km per litre during its ‘homologation’ tests with ARAI. This makes Tata Nano the most fuel efficient car in India. Nano will be the first car in India to display the actual fuel mileage figures it recorded at ARAI’s tests on its windshield. According to ARAI it conforms to Euro IV emission standards which will come into effect in India in 2010.[55]
Rear mounted engine
The use of a rear mounted engine to help maximize interior space makes the Nano similar to the original Fiat 500, another technically innovative "people's car". A concept vehicle similar in styling to the Nano, also with rear engined layout was proposed by the UK Rover Group in the 1990s to succeed the original Mini but was not put into production.[56] The eventual new Mini was much larger and technically conservative. The independent, and now-defunct, MG Rover Group later based their Rover CityRover on the Tata Indica.
Tata is also reported to be contemplating offering a compressed air engine as an option.[
Model versions
At its launch the Nano was available in three trim levels:[9]
the basic Tata Nano Std priced at 123,000 Rupees has no extras;
the deluxe Tata Nano CX at 151,000 Rupees has air conditioning;
the deluxe Tata Nano TX at 135,000 Rupees has air conditioning, Yellow Colour Taxi Version;
the luxury Tata Nano LX at 172,000 Rupees has air conditioning, power windows and central locking
the Nano Europa, European version of the Tata Nano has all of the above plus a larger body, bigger 3-cylinder engine, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and meets European crash standards and emission norms.
The base model will have fixed seats, except for the driver's, which will be adjustable,[clarification needed] while the deluxe and luxury models will get air conditioning and body coloured bumpers.[4
the basic Tata Nano Std priced at 123,000 Rupees has no extras;
the deluxe Tata Nano CX at 151,000 Rupees has air conditioning;
the deluxe Tata Nano TX at 135,000 Rupees has air conditioning, Yellow Colour Taxi Version;
the luxury Tata Nano LX at 172,000 Rupees has air conditioning, power windows and central locking
the Nano Europa, European version of the Tata Nano has all of the above plus a larger body, bigger 3-cylinder engine, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and meets European crash standards and emission norms.
The base model will have fixed seats, except for the driver's, which will be adjustable,[clarification needed] while the deluxe and luxury models will get air conditioning and body coloured bumpers.[4
Price
Tata initially targeted the vehicle as "the least expensive production car in the world"[10] — aiming for a starting price of 100,000 rupees or approximately US$2000 (using exchange rate as of March 22, 2009) [11][12] 6 years ago, despite rapidly rising material prices at the time.[45]
As of August 2008, material costs had risen from 13% to 23% over the car’s development,[46] and Tata faced[citation needed] the choice of:
introducing the car with an artificially low price through government subsidies and tax-breaks[citation needed]
forgoing profit on the car[citation needed]
using vertical-integration to artificially boost profits on cars at the expense of their materials industries[citation needed]
partially using inexpensive polymers or biodegradable plastics instead of a full metal-body[citation needed]
raising the price of the car
As of August 2008, material costs had risen from 13% to 23% over the car’s development,[46] and Tata faced[citation needed] the choice of:
introducing the car with an artificially low price through government subsidies and tax-breaks[citation needed]
forgoing profit on the car[citation needed]
using vertical-integration to artificially boost profits on cars at the expense of their materials industries[citation needed]
partially using inexpensive polymers or biodegradable plastics instead of a full metal-body[citation needed]
raising the price of the car
Cost Cutting features
The Nano's boot does not open, instead the rear seats can be folded down to access the boot space.[40][41]
It has a single windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair.
Some exterior parts of it are glued together, rather than welded.
It has no power steering.
Its door opening lever was simplified.[42]
It has 3 nuts on the wheels instead of the statutory 4 nuts.
It only has 1 side view mirror[4
It has a single windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair.
Some exterior parts of it are glued together, rather than welded.
It has no power steering.
Its door opening lever was simplified.[42]
It has 3 nuts on the wheels instead of the statutory 4 nuts.
It only has 1 side view mirror[4
Design
Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Tata Motors, began development of the world's cheapest production car in 2003,[36] inspired by the number of Indian families with two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled vehicles.[37] The Nano's development has been tempered[clarification needed] by the company's success in producing the low cost 4 wheeled Ace truck in May 2005.[36]
Contrary to speculation that the car might be a simple four-wheeled auto rickshaw, The Times of India reported the vehicle is "a properly designed and built car".[38] The Chairman is reported to have said, "It is not a car with plastic curtains or no roof — it's a real car."[36]
To achieve its design goals, Tata refined the manufacturing process, emphasized innovation and sought new design approaches from suppliers.[38] The car was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering — with Ratan Tata requesting certain changes, such as the elimination of one of two windscreen wipers.[36] Some components of the Nano are made in Germany by Bosch, such as Fuel Injection, brake system, Value Motronic ECU, ABS and other technologies.[39]
The Nano has 21% more interior space (albeit mostly as headroom, due to its tall stance) and an 8% smaller exterior compared to its closest rival, the Maruti 800. Tata offered the car in three versions: the basic Tata Nano Std; the Cx; and the Lx. The Cx and Lx versions each have air conditioning, power windows, and central locking. Tata has set its initial production target at 250,000 units per year
Contrary to speculation that the car might be a simple four-wheeled auto rickshaw, The Times of India reported the vehicle is "a properly designed and built car".[38] The Chairman is reported to have said, "It is not a car with plastic curtains or no roof — it's a real car."[36]
To achieve its design goals, Tata refined the manufacturing process, emphasized innovation and sought new design approaches from suppliers.[38] The car was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering — with Ratan Tata requesting certain changes, such as the elimination of one of two windscreen wipers.[36] Some components of the Nano are made in Germany by Bosch, such as Fuel Injection, brake system, Value Motronic ECU, ABS and other technologies.[39]
The Nano has 21% more interior space (albeit mostly as headroom, due to its tall stance) and an 8% smaller exterior compared to its closest rival, the Maruti 800. Tata offered the car in three versions: the basic Tata Nano Std; the Cx; and the Lx. The Cx and Lx versions each have air conditioning, power windows, and central locking. Tata has set its initial production target at 250,000 units per year
Overview
The introduction of the Nano received media attention due to its targeted low price. The Financial Times reported[16]: "If ever there were a symbol of India’s ambitions to become a modern nation, it would surely be the Nano, the tiny car with the even tinier price-tag. A triumph of homegrown engineering, the $2,200 (€1,490, £1,186) Nano encapsulates the dream of millions of Indians groping for a shot at urban prosperity." The car is expected to boost the Indian economy, create entrepreneurial-opportunities across India[17][18], as well as expand the Indian car market by 65%[19]. The car was envisioned by Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, who has described it as an eco-friendly "people's car". Nano has been greatly appreciated by many sources and the media for its low-cost[20][21] and eco-friendly initiatives which include using compressed-air as fuel[22] and an electric-version (E-Nano)[23][24]. Tata Group is expected to mass-manufacture the Nano, particularly the electric-version, and, besides selling them in India, to also export them worldwide[25][26][27].
Critics of the car have questioned its safety in India (where reportedly 90,000 people are killed in road-accidents every year[28]), and have also criticised the pollution that it would cause[29] (including criticism by Nobel Peace Prize winner Rajendra Pachauri[30]). However, Tata Motors has promised that it would definitely release Nano's eco-friendly models alongside the gasoline-model[31][32].
The Nano was originally to have been manufactured at a new factory in Singur, West Bengal, but increasingly violent protests forced Tata to pull out October 2008. (See Singur factory pullout below.) Currently, Tata Motors is reportedly manufacturing Nano at its existing Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) plant and a mother plant has been proposed for Sanand Gujarat.[33]. The company will bank on existing dealer network for Nano initially.[34] The new Nano Plant could have a capacity of 500,000 units, compared to 300,000 for Singur. Gujarat has also agreed to match all the incentives offered by West Bengal government
Critics of the car have questioned its safety in India (where reportedly 90,000 people are killed in road-accidents every year[28]), and have also criticised the pollution that it would cause[29] (including criticism by Nobel Peace Prize winner Rajendra Pachauri[30]). However, Tata Motors has promised that it would definitely release Nano's eco-friendly models alongside the gasoline-model[31][32].
The Nano was originally to have been manufactured at a new factory in Singur, West Bengal, but increasingly violent protests forced Tata to pull out October 2008. (See Singur factory pullout below.) Currently, Tata Motors is reportedly manufacturing Nano at its existing Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) plant and a mother plant has been proposed for Sanand Gujarat.[33]. The company will bank on existing dealer network for Nano initially.[34] The new Nano Plant could have a capacity of 500,000 units, compared to 300,000 for Singur. Gujarat has also agreed to match all the incentives offered by West Bengal government
Tata Nano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tata Nano is a rear-engined, four-passenger city car built by Tata Motors, aimed primarily at the Indian market. It was first presented at the 9th annual Auto Expo on 10 January 2008, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India.[4] Tata Motors commercially launched Nano on March 23, 2009, with bookings from April 9 to April 25.[5]The sales of the car will begin in July 2009,[6] with a starting price of Rs 115,000 (rupees), cheaper than the Maruti 800, its main competitor and next cheapest Indian car priced at 184,641 Rupees.[7][8][9] Tata had sought to produce the least expensive production car in the world[10] — aiming for a starting price of Rs.100,000 (approximately US$2,000 in March 2009).[11][12]
In early 2008 the news magazine Newsweek identified the Nano as a part of a "new breed of 21st-century cars" that embody "a contrarian philosophy of smaller, lighter, cheaper" and portend a new era in inexpensive personal transportation — and potentially, "global gridlock".[13] The Wall Street Journal confirmed a global trend toward small cars, which includes the Nano.[14]
"Nano" means "small" in Gujarati[15], the language of the founders of the Tata Group. In English, the prefix "nano-" is often used to mean small. This derives from the Greek root 'nanos', meaning dwarf.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Nano: Tata Motors may get 500,000 orders
Bookings for the Nano may range from 120,000 during the first two-week sales period before 100,000 buyers are allocated by lottery
Staff Writer, Bloomberg and PTI
Mumbai:Tata Motors Ltd, the maker of Jaguar and Land Rover luxury vehicles, may get as many as 500,000 orders for the Tata Nano five times more than it initially plans to sell, analysts said.
Bookings for the Nano may range from 120,000 during the first two-week sales period before 100,000 buyers are allocated by lottery, according to a poll of six analysts surveyed by ‘Bloomberg’.
Separately, Global rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P)on Wednesday downgraded Tata Motors’ credit ratings, saying the company was facing deteriorating cash flow and an adverse operating environment.
The downgrade highlights deterioration in the company’s ability to repay debts in the long term.
The ratings remain on credit watch with negative implications, S&P said, adding that the company’s grades have been put on ‘B+´ (little assurance of long-term payment) from the earlier ‘BB-´ (moderate security for future payment).
Meanwhile, National Insurance Co. Ltd chairman and managing director V. Ramasaamy said the insurance premium for the Tata Nano is likely to be Rs3,000-4000. The firm is one of the insurers that provide cover to commercial and passenger vehicles manufactured by Tata Motors. “...we will review the premium for Nano a year later,” said Ramasaamy.
Evaluating the Tata Nano
The Tata Nano. "The People's Car" is marketed as India's first major mark as the world's leading innovators and a key enabler for job and wealth creation across India. However, many protest, citing environmental concerns, urban congestion and forced displacement. I was recently provided materials from Tata Motors and it inspired the following exploration of the Nano from three business angles: risk/feasibility, market opportunity, and overall global impact.
From a feasibility perspective the Nano was quite risky . First, creating the Nano required 34 new patents and creating the lightest modern production car at half the price of the nearest competitor. Second, as with most new vehicles, Tata will take a loss on all vehicles, estimating break-even at six years, at best an early estimate. This huge investment has weakened their financial position. Last Tuesday, S&P lowered Tata’s ratings from B+ to BB- and indicated that further downward revisions were in the offing.
This pushes Tata’s bond ratings further into junk territory just as it is struggling to refinance $2 Billion of the $3 Billion bridge loan it took to finance the acquisition of Jaguar and Range Rover. Thirdly, it was not ingenuity that created the greatest impact on cost, it was politics. Tata convinced the Indian people to finance this project through manufacturing plant subsidies from particular states. One plant alone is creating 10,000 new jobs, and there are 3-4 plants expected to break new ground. The states were convinced, however farmers and activists staged violent protests at Tata Motor's Singur plant in February, alleging locals were forced off prime farmland to make room for the plant. The government says it has compensated most of the affected farmers; however, many vehemently argue they were forced into giving up their land and primary trade against their will. Tata has since moved the plant location.
The Market
From a market-driven perspective the opportunity is palpable. Small cars are currently in-vogue on the global scale. While India purchased over 7M scooters in 2000 compared to 1M autos the Nano's price enables it to directly compete with scooters. India is about to enter a mode of wealth creation greater than China, as it finally recognizes its population as an advantage, not burden. The largest group of baby-boomers ever are entering the workforce (average and median age is 25 in India, over 40 in China) creating a surge in demand that no economy has ever seen. Currently, there are only 6M car owners in India and 18M have the means to buy one. Amazingly, the Nano's price point increases that pool of potential auto owners by as much as 65 percent, to 30 million just as the target market dramatically increases.
Nano to drive into city today
Nano to drive into city today
4 Apr 2009, 0620 hrs IST, Melvyn Thomas, TNN
4 Apr 2009, 0620 hrs IST, Melvyn Thomas, TNN
SURAT: The long wait for a glimpse of the world's cheapest car will come to an end for
Surtis with Tata's Nano making its debut in the city
on Saturday. Nano has been
eagerly awaited here ever since it was unveiled by Ratan Tata at the 9th Auto Show in New Delhi in January.
Preparations are in full swing at Tata Motor's dealership showroom at Puna
Kumbharia to welcome the car being transhipped from Pantnagar in north India.
"The dream car will arrive on Saturday at our showroom and a sea of humanity is expected," says director of Auto Point Tarun Ghura.
Auto Point officials say they are flooded with queries from impatient customers. Till now, the dealership has sold over 300 booking forms in the last two days and the queue is only getting longer.
"Till now, we have seen the little car on television sets and in pictures. It's time for us as well as the public to feel the real Nano," says Ghura. Nano CX model costing Rs 1.56 lakh would be on display and two more models would arrive in the next two days, he adds.
Says Nano enthusiast Shailesh Mishra, "I have booked the car and am waiting to get a glimpse of it." Nano bookings will begin on April 9 and close on April 25. "We have no booking targets but are confident of receiving an unprecedented response to the marvel," enthuses Ghura.
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