Tata Nano has always been in news for both right and wrong reasons. This small car which incidentally is the cheapest car of the world is celebrating its first birthday tomorrow.But this memorable event has been dampened with a fiery incident just a day before its birthday. In a fourth of its kind, a brand new Tata Nano burst out in flames just after 45 minutes after the car was delivered from the dealership.
Tata Nano is the world’s cheapest car but wish we could say something nice (on the first year anniversary) about the safety features of the car. Last year, there were three incidents which reported Nano catching fire due to possible electrical fire. And now there is a fourth report of a Nano catching fire on its debut tour to home. Just after travelling, from the dealership, for about 45 minutes the vehicle burst into flames.
As of October 2009, Tata suffered bad publicity because of three incidents of the Nano vehicles bursting into flames. These three fires were, supposedly, caused by electrical short under the vehicle’s steering column. But in the latest incident, the fire started with the engine and not the steering column.
During these incidents Tata Motors shirked from its responsibility of recalling the Nano cars, saying that it would conduct the pre-emptive checks on cars that were to be handed over or those that were with customers. Tata Motors satisfied themselves with this low key inspection and believed that Nanos won’t catch fire anymore. But this ignorance of Tata Motors did not prove to be very blissful.
According to reports, Satish Sawant took delivery of the car and, since he cannot drive, the company organized a chauffeur to deliver the car home. On his way back, a motorcyclist on the signalled something was wrong to the rear of his car. Sawant turned and noticed fire. He and the driver immediately jumped out of the car to safety. So much for the car being the cheapest.
Sooner or later, this had to happen. In order to make the cheapest car in the world, Tata Motors sacrificed on various safety aspects, the horrible results of which would not be tolerated even by the lower middle class car buyers.
Tata Motors is planning to launch its ultra cheap, though very risqué, car in Europe and the US very soon. But with a history like this, we would suggest that Tata rather chose to keep its baby to itself than getting sued over matters of fire.
