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Thursday, 22 April 2010
 Well, Tata Motors has launched the Magic Iris in Jaipur and the vehicle would grace the other cities in the following months. Tata Motors has launched the BS III edition of the Magic Iris, which implies it can only be registered in smaller cities only. Since Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and others register only BS IV emission compliant vehicles, they would have to wait for the day Tata launches the BS IV version. So far, so good. In Jaipur, you can buy this car by shelling out Rs.2.12 lakh and, mind it; the price is inclusive of registration fees and taxes. Bookings for the new car have started and the delivery may take a minimum of two days, given the other formalities like insurance are completed then-and-there. The image that you see in the blog is actually a news paper ad which appeared in Dainik Bhaskar. The Tata Magic Iris features a 611-cc water-cooled diesel engine that is capable of producing 11 bhp and can do a top speed of 55 km/h. Alright guys, don’t roll your eyes over this already. The Magic Iris is aimed at competing with the auto rickshaws in India and we can claim that Magic Iris is much faster than most of the other trikes. The Magic Iris comes as a four-wheel replacement to India’s three-wheel rickshaws. And it comes with plenty of features that would give it an edge over the Bajaj Autos that we so often come across on the Indian roads. For one, the Magic Iris has got a large passenger compartment, which can conveniently accommodate three adults. Apart from this there is a single passenger seat up front and a boot that can swallow quite an amount of luggage. The safety aspects of the passengers have been well thought and executed in this vehicle. It has an all-weather protection and there is no door on the right hand side leading into the passenger area. Also, the magic offers a stable and less noisy ride We have a lot of people complaining about the look of the car. But, you can’t expect a passenger car to look like a Jaguar (or even a Nano), right, even though both come from the same manufacturer. Alright, we agree that it does not look like an eye-candy sort but when you consider the usability and safety factor of this car (or whatever you want to call it); it is sure to strike a chord with the Indian crowd. Labels: Jaguar, Magic-Iris, Nano, Tata-Magic-Iris, Tata-Magic-Iris-Launch, Tata-Magic-Iris-Price, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
 Can you believe this? Chauffeur-driven Nanos will be added to the list of cars used for guest transfers at the Taj Hotels. It is true that Taj Hotels are promoted by Tata. But a little one like the Nano will be taking guests around the cities and airports. This seems a little strange. Will this really happen or is it just speculation? Indian Hotels (IHCL) is the owner of the Taj brand of premium hotels and the biggest hospitality chain in Asia. Very recently, IHCL introduced Jaguar sedans to the line of cars at the Taj after the Tata acquisition of the brand. It uses the Jaguars for VIPs and for transportation as a limousine. The Nano is one of the smallest cars in the world. But this car is also among the biggest brands within the Tata family. Just a while ago, the whole world was talking about the Nano. Tata gained so much popularity because of the little master. Car makers and car fanatics showed special interest in the Nano. Will it be a success? Will it survive? Many more questions were in their minds. Now we see so many car makers with plans of small cars. Many of them have already come up with mini models. The newly launched Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and Chevrolet Beat have been seeing pretty decent sales figures. Nissan too will be rolling out its Micra in the next two months. IHCL always looks at creating a matchless effect by the sharing and combination of products and brands within the Tata Group. The Taj brand feels that it is possible to have the Nano as a car for guest transfers. In some time, once the production of the Nano gets stretched, the car will be waiting for guests to enter. Why do you think all this has suddenly come up? Has any guest at the Taj made any special request for the Nano? None of us have heard anything of the sort. The company only says that such a demand could arise, considering the excitement the world’s cheapest car has created. The car is yet to be launched overseas and requests for cars at the Taj mostly come from international travelers coming to India. So, there may not be too much of a demand for the car though. The international travellers, however, will get a drive in the Nano only during their visit to India. It will take more than a year for the car to hit international roads. So, the Taj’s decision of adding the car to the existing line-up seems to be an intelligent one. Ever since its launch a couple of years ago, there has been so much curiosity and interest attached with the Nano. Currently, IHCL has an array of luxury and economy travel options with carlines ranging from Tata Indica for the economy seekers to the Mercedes Benz S-Class for the premium traveller. The company also makes extensive use of all the models of Tata Motors, including Tata Indigo, Tata Sumo and Tata Safari. Now, does IHCL really intend to use the Nano? If yes, it will have to wait for Tata Motors to reopen the bookings of the car. This is expected later this year. Labels: Guest-Car, Guest-Transfer-Car, Nano, Nano-at-the-Taj, Small-Car, Tata-Nano, World’s-Cheapest-Car
Monday, 22 March 2010
Green cars. Yes, these days, green cars are making a lot of noise. Everybody is talking about them. Car makers are busy creating some. Environmental pollution and its fatal consequences have finally got into our heads. The Nano talk is in full swing. Now, Hyundai says, “It’s my turn”. Hyundai has plans of coming out with a car smaller than its Santro. When? Well, in a couple of years. Will it be something like the Nano? No, the new model is definitely not going to be as small as the Nano. Why? Hyundai Motor India Limited has a set of standard norms and these norms of standard do not allow the company to manufacture a small car like the Nano. Did you know the Nano will roll out from Bangladesh too by the end of 2010? Tata Motors recently said that it would launch the Nano in new markets like Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh by this year or early next year. In February, the company displayed the Nano in Bangladesh at the India Trade Fair. Doesn’t it seem like Tata’s small wonder will work big wonders in our neighboring countries? Hyundai, however, has said “No” to something like the little Nano. Hyundai has opened a new dealership in Thrissur district of Kerala with an area of 44,000 sq. ft for sales, service and spares and will have the entire range of Hyundai cars. Well, may be two years from now, and we will see the new tini-mini Hyundai car as well in the showroom. The new Hyundai facility is the second one in Thrissur district and the 19th dealership in the state. Hyundai is on the verge of scaling new heights yet again. The dealership takes the total number to 46 just in the Southern region. As of now, Hyundai is very delighted. It enjoys a market share of 20.6 per cent in Southern India and 16 per cent in Kerala. By the end of 2010, Hyundai plans to increase this percentage to 22 and 20 per cent for southern India and Kerala respectively. In Kerala alone, Hyundai managed to sell 19,603 units last year. Great number, right? Well done Hyundai! Last year, Hyundai Motor India Limited registered a 14.4 per cent increase in sales compared to the year 2008. It sold 5,59,880 cars in 2009. Hyundai is growing and all of us can see it. In the domestic market, it showed an 18.1 per cent growth as compared to 2008 with 2,89,863 units. In the overseas market too, the company’s sales grew by 10.7 per cent with export of 2,70,017 units. With the commissioning of its second plant in February 2008, the total production capacity of HMIL has gone up to 6,00,000 units a year now. Labels: Hyundai-Motor-India-Limited, Nano, New-Hyundai-Car, New-Small-Car, Small-Car, Small-Hyundai-Car, Tata-Nano
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Remember the day when the Tata Nano was unveiled? The pomp and show was great when the world’s cheapest car was launched in India. But, will the Nano carry the Rs 1,00,000 tag through its lifespan, or, will it hike its price? Times are getting tougher for the creators of the wonderful car, and so, the price too may have to get a little tough. The Nano’s parent group, Tata and its chairman Ratan Tata have been struggling to cope up with the current Indian economy. With the increase in costs of raw materials and labour, and the new higher taxes, the manufacturing costs too are rising. Post budget, steel has seen an average rise in price of 25 per cent. The prices of copper, aluminum, plastics and rubber are increasing by the day and Tata finds it difficult to maintain the low price of the Nano. Will the People’s Car remain as such in the coming years? Working middle-class Indians just switched over from two to four wheels. Blame the slight sophistication in the lifestyle on the Nano. The price did it all. But, what do you think will happen now? What if the Nano comes with a slightly hefty price? Will Ratan Tata’s dream project still be a success? Many car makers have already increased their prices. Will Tata be able to manage the heavier price? Over 26,500 Nanos have already been sold, and as promised, the first 1,00,000 cars will be sold at Rs 1,00,000 regardless of the high manufacturing costs. Now that’s a gentleman’s promise from Tata. Wondering what is going to happen later? Well, the basic model of the small car may see a Rs 30,000 hike and the high-end version, the price of the Nano LX may increase to Rs 2,00,000. Currently, the Nano LX is priced at Rs 1,72,360-1,85,375. The increase in prices will probably be seen towards the end of this year, once the second round of bookings begins. Tata, however, has remained tight-lipped about the prices. It was unsure of the future price. It confessed, though, that the rising manufacturing costs were making it difficult to sell the car at a low cost. The Nano has already sparked the fire and many other car makers are coming up with ultra-low-cost cars. The competition is getting tenser. Ford, Honda, Toyota, and Renault and Nissan along with Bajaj Auto all plan to make small cars in the next two years. India’s population is huge. But, only 8 per 1,000 people in India own cars as compared to Germany and France with 550 and 495 per 1,000 people respectively. Even after the increase in prices, the Nano is likely to remain cheaper than its rivals. The Nano stands a better chance of increasing the number of Indian car buyers. Demand for cars in rural parts of India is increasing because of Nano’s low price. The eco-friendly Nano looks great. The toy-like cuddly car delivers a safe feeling. Tata has bigger plans. It wants to sell the Nano in the U.S. However, that would happen only after the car is redesigned with a larger engine and greater safety features. So, that is going to take some time. Last year, a European version of the Nano with airbags and leather trim, with more stringent safety and emissions standards was unveiled by Tata. Way to go Nano! Labels: Car-Price, Car-Price-Hike, cheap-car-price, Nano, Nano-Price, People’s-Car, Tata-Nano, Tata-Nano-price, World’s-Cheapest-Car
Monday, 21 September 2009
It seems like nothing in the world is capable of stopping the Tata Motors from its objectives and ambitions and if you have such an opinion this piece of information that you will be reading on, will give you a reason to rejoice thinking you are in the right lane of thoughts. Tata Motors, one among the major automakers of India has been successful in attaining a loan of amount £10-million from the British Government.And the most amusing part is that it is the first time the British government is lending a loan under the British government's £2.3-billion automotive assistance programme. Now, the loan is for the company’s new electric car project in UK. Thinking about all possible reasons, which would have made the British government feel comfortable, and secured too, to lend Tata Motors a loan, the first few things came into mind is its plans to launch Nano in the European and American car market and its buy out of Land Rover and Jaguar.These initiatives have surely called for global attention and now have helped the company to create such an achievement. The company will manufacture electric cars in the UK and apart from the £10-million loan from the UK government, the company is also investing an amount of £25 million. It is said that the company is thinking about setting up a factory in the UK. It seems Tata has foreseen this helping hand and it has developed a four-seater electric car in partnership with Norwegian group 20Miljo Grenland/Innovation and with is huge financial from the British government, the company will start the production of this car later this year in Norway. This will surely be a give and take process as both the parties, Tata and the British car industry, will gain from it. With the help of the British government itself, Tata will soon fully overpower the fast growing green car industry. Labels: Car-Loans, Electric-Car, Fiat and Tata, Jaguar, Land-Rover, Nano, Tata-Motors-Cars
Monday, 11 May 2009
Though the first phase of allotment of Tata Nano is still due in July, Tata Motors is in full swing to diversify the car’s model range. Interestingly, the company is likely to introduce an automatic variant and a diesel variant of the Nano. The production of these new models of Nano will take place at Sanand, Gujarat and are expected to hit the market by the end of this year. Currently, Nano comprises three variants - Nano, Nano CX, and Nano LX with a 624 CC engine which gives an approximate mileage of 22 km/l. This figure suggests that it is one of the most fuel efficient petrol cars in India. It is speculated that the diesel variant will give a mileage of 25 km/l which will set a new benchmark in the Indian car industry. The automatic Nano will be dearer to women and beginners (who hate gear shifting) with a 4-speed automatic CVT gearbox. Sources in the industry said that the automatic gearbox is being manufactured by the Pune based Kinetic Group which is taking help from the Avtec Ltd. and a Canadian firm CVTech-IBC for manufacturing the CVT gearbox. An automatic gearbox in a small car will revolutionize the car industry as it is not very common in the small car segment. Only premium small cars enjoy the automatic transmission feature. Both the variants (Automatic and Diesel) will definitely help the ultra-cheap car to spread its wings wider and grab a larger market share. Labels: Nano, Small-Cars, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Nano mania is haunting car dealers across the country even after the termination of bookings on April 25. Surprisingly, dealers were found to receive booking orders on Sunday and Monday against the officially stipulated time. The huge response for Tata Nano in Mumbai has pushed the dealers to unofficially open the booking. It is learnt that a couple of dealers in Mumbai and Goa sold application forms for the Nano and accepted bookings. Soon after the Tata Motors officials noticed it, they sent a directive asking them to stop all bookings for the car immediately. The dealers defended themselves by saying that they accepted bookings only on outright purchases. No finance was available as banks have stopped all financial support on Saturday. Hence, only aspirants who were able to pay the full down payment were allowed to make the bookings. The dealers were under pressure to meet their targets for Nano bookings. The company also admitted that most car dealerships saw immensely hectic activity on the last day of bookings. More applications were sold on the closing day than in the preceding days. The company is expected to disclose the total number of bookings received by the end of this week. The first phase of allotment of cars will be made 60 days after the closure of bookings. Labels: Car-Dealers, Nano, Tata-Motors-Cars
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Nano is creating benchmarks in all arenas. Small but this smart car has surpassed the boundaries of marketing and promotion to reach every part of the globe.
Tata Motors has adopted new schemes and strategies to market its small wonder. The move towards online marketing through facebook, orkut, and other social marketing websites was commendable. It was amazingly the first car that was made online and won success through the medium.
Maintaining the online growth and strategy of marketing, Tata Motors has also associated the car with the renowned online game portal, zapak.com to help Nano lovers take a virtual tour of the car. Through the new online game, buyers can maneuver the world’s cheapest car with desirable colours and accessories. Car enthusiasts can just log on and play for free if they wish to drive the Nano in the virtual world.
It is believed that after the Nano was launched in March, its website has received about millions of hits and now the newly launched online game portal has experienced about 1 million gamers taking Nano on a virtual tour.
Labels: Nano, Small-Cars, Tata-Motors-Cars
Friday, 3 April 2009
Tata Motors is flying on the ninth cloud with the launch of its ultra-cheap car ‘Nano’. When the car manufacturer is receiving an overwhelming global attention for Nano, it is not ignoring its customers. Tata is taking equal care of its new as well as existing customers. This is proved by Tata’s free summer check-up campaign organised for the passenger cars and utility vehicles in Thiruvananthapuram. This nation-wide campaign provides additional services to its customer thereby strengthening company’s rapport with them. The free service will include examining of car parts and accessories that are crucial in summer like air-conditioner, fuel systems, and electrical by the experts. The one month campaign started in April 1st will last till the end of the month across all the Tata Motors dealerships and select authorised service centres. Besides this, car dealerships and service centres will also concentrate on various customer issues. This service also gives an option to win attractive repair discounts. The campaign will witness the participation of experts from original equipment manufacturers of air-conditioners, fuel injection systems, batteries, and auto electrical. Labels: Car-Manufacturer, Nano, Tata-Motors
Monday, 30 March 2009
Now for all prospective Nano buyers the car is only a few clicks away as Tata Motors is offering an online booking facility. Seeing the growing popularity of online purchase and the overwhelming response for the Nano website, Tata Motors has decided to take Nano online through social communities like Facebook and Orkut. It is believed that in these social communities Nano has received a tremendous response from car enthusiasts across the globe. And now Tata offers an online booking of Nano making it the first in the Indian automobile history. The Nano website offers retailing of co-branded Nano merchandise like watches, T-shirts, and phones along with a detailed section for applying the car online and that also with a secure payment gateway. So, now you can book your Nano online between the same booking period of April 9th and April 25th, 2009. You can also select your desired range of accessories from the virtual showroom available online. Also, internet booking will fetch you a discount of Rs 200 on the application form. This means through online booking you can avail the Nano application form for just Rs 100. Isn’t that amazing? So, Nano can now be booked without the hassle of queuing up for an application form along with a discount. Labels: Car-Buyers, Nano, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Skoda’s plan to launch a small car this fiscal is now postponed by more than a year. The new car is likely to be smaller than the Fabia and priced below Rs 4 Lakh. It is also planning to roll out another small car positioned below the Golf with a sticker of Rs 7 Lakh. These cars are expected to be fitted with CNG or LPG kits. But why suddenly the company advances the launch? It’s an obvious question that pops up in the minds of many. The recent launch of the Nano has dazzled the entire industry with its high-end engineering. The Nano-mania has taken a toll over car enthusiast and car buyers. Maybe this is the reason why Skoda wants to wait so that this mania can subside and car buyers can have a broader perception. The car manufacturer is just trying to read the market for Nano before making any further decision. It’s interesting to know that Skoda desires to drive its entire team of designers and engineers to go back to the drawing board to create something innovative and tantalizing. Like the Nano, Skoda’s small car is also expected to be indigenous without any compromise on quality. Just wonder what if the Nano mania does not subside? Will Skoda decide not to launch its small car? Labels: Nano, New-Car-Launch, Skoda-Cars, Small-Cars
Though Nano is a big challenge for the small cars manufacturers, Maruti Suzuki is not much affected by the launch of the ultra-cheap car. When many car manufacturers are rushing towards the small car race, Maruti Suzuki has not revealed its interest to enter the Nano segment. The company is optimistic of its existing contender sales in the market however it’s aware of the fact that the world's cheapest car will have a marginal impact on sales of Maruti 800 (closest competitor of Nano). Maruti Suzuki is ready to face the competition and is also obstinate to cut down the price of Maruti 800. Nano is 8 percent shorter in exterior dimension compared to Maruti 800 but has 21 percent more spacious interior. However in terms of mileage and price Nano leads the Maruti 800. Will the Nano prove to be a threat to the Maruti Suzuki cars? Well, it is still an unanswered question and will be revealed within a few months. Labels: Maruti-800, Maruti-Suzuki-Cars, Nano
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Just after a day of Nano launch, it has created a rave across the country grabbing lakhs of booking applications. Everyone is moving ahead to buy one small car for their family. The hype that was created when the Nano was unveiled at the Auto Expo 2008 is still fresh in the minds of car enthusiasts. SBI branches are receiving a tremendous response for Nano booking pouring in from all parts of the country. Amazingly, State Bank of India has alone distributed lakhs of applications for Nano booking. And this really shows the rustling interest of car enthusiasts for buying the car. SBI has tied up with Tata Motors to manage the Nano booking. At present, application forms have only been distributed. The filled applications will be received by all SBI branches, Tata dealerships, and other Tata outlets and financiers between April 9th and April 25th 2009. The applications will be processed with the help of SBI’s cash management product, SBI Fast. The bank has also set up a 24x7 helpline service to ease the booking process. Additionally, SBI loan product will ensure applicants for booking the Nano by financing 100 per cent amount at a low down-payment amount starting from Rs 2,999. Moreover, the buyers can avail Nano car loan up to a maximum period of seven years for 11.75 to 12 per cent interest rate. This is the scenario within one day of its launch. Let’s see what more the destiny holds for Nano in the coming days. Labels: Car-Loans, Nano, Tata-Motors
Tata’s little heart is now ready to rule the car market. There is no car in India and even in the world which is cheaper than the Tata Nano, therefore it offers the cheapest mode of four-wheel personal mobility. But how far the car surpasses its competitors like the Maruti 800, Chevrolet Spark, and the Maruti Suzuki Alto in other aspects. On the mileage front, Nano scores maximum with its fuel efficiency of 23.6 km/l compared to the 800, Spark, and the Alto which delivers a fuel efficiency of 14.2 km/l, 13.1km/l, and 14.5 km/l, respectively. Moreover, the Nano is also compliant to both Bharat Stage II and Bharat Stage III emission norms unlike others that are only BS III compliance. If required, Nano can also be upgraded to meet the BS IV emission norms. But when it comes to power, Nano has the smallest 624cc engine because of which the car is not able to exceed the speed of 105 km/h whereas its competitors can easily go beyond 100 km/h with better stability and handling. Nano has minimum turning radius that makes the car maneuver more efficiently on congested city roads. It has 4 metres turning radius compared to 4.4 metres in Maruti 800, 4.6 metres in Alto and 4.6 metres in Spark. So, the Nano wins the small car race because of the high mileage, low price tag, and the minimum turning radius of 4 meters. Labels: Nano, Small-Cars, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Tata Nano will be available through a special booking process due to initial limited production of the car. Following the launch, it will be displayed at all the Tata dealerships and authorized outlets from April 1st 2009. Thereafter, you can book your Nano by filling the application from that will be available at Rs 300 from April 9th 2009 till the end of day April 25th 2009. You can avail these application forms at about 30,000 locations across 1,000 cities at the Tata Motors dealerships, branches of the State Bank of India (SBI), other financiers, and Tata’s outlets including Westside, Croma, Titan showrooms, and Tata Indicom exclusive stores. You can either make the entire booking amount on your own or take financing of the booking amount. To avail finance, you need to pay an amount of Rs 2999 to the financier who will submit your application to the SBI on your behalf. The company has tied up with 15 banks including the ICIC, Corporation Bank, and the Central Bank of India to provide easy car loan to its customers. Tata Motors will announce the allotment of 100,000 cars within 60 days of the closure of bookings through a computerized random selection procedure. It will be a lucky draw where only the lucky winners will be able to drive the Nano. And the deliveries of the allotted cars will commence from July 2009. Another best thing is that if in case you are not allotted the Nano you can either take back the booking amount or you earn an interest in the second phase allotment announcement. You can avail an interest rate of around 8.5% on your booking amount for retention period between one to two year and 8.75% for a retention period of more than 2 years. Labels: Car-Loans, Nano, Tata-Motors
Every news channel, news paper, and magazine is singing the praising tune for the Tata Nano. The little wonder on wheels is continuously creating sensation since its first public appearance at the 2008 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The car now made its entry in the market crossing all hurdles and troubles. We all know that the highlight of the car is its commendable Rs 1 Lakh price tag, but the actual price of the car will exceed the one lakh mark. But the question is how much? The base variant of the Nano which carries a price tag of Rs 1 Lakh is said to cost Rs 1.35 Lakh on road. This would be inclusive of road tax, registration, and also the insurance. And if one is going for a car loan option, then for a term of 5 years there would be an additional cost of Rs 2,300 (EMI) for base variant. For a high-end variant, the EMI would be Rs 3450-4000 for a five year loan while one-time insurance costs would be over Rs 6,000. Even the spare parts cost is not much different from other cars. It is learnt that individual spares of the car is likely to cost the same as those of the Indica. Many say that Nano would be a best replacement for a two-wheeler but its insurance is said to be costlier than a two-wheeler. And prices will not remain the same forever with the rising cost of living. In recent times, many car companies have increased their car prices stating inflation and high input costs. And Nano will not be an exception either. In a very short time one can see the rising price of Nano. So is it actually a ‘ONE LAKH’ car? Labels: Car-Price, Nano, Tata-cars
Monday, 23 March 2009
Get ready to witness the most awaited world’s cheapest car ‘Nano’ in Mumbai where it will be launched today after a couple of hours. A new history will be created in the voyage of automotive discovery in the glorious journey of Tata as well as global auto industry with the Nano launch. The plan of launching a 1 Lakh car was cropped into the mind of Ratan Tata when he saw a man riding in a motorbike with his kids and wife drenching in the rain. This very site aroused a feeling in his heart to do something for middle class people who can only dream of purchasing a car. Now with the entry of the Nano, millions of people can now afford to buy a four wheeler which was impractical for them earlier. When the company first showcased the Nano at the 2008 Auto Expo in New Delhi, it received an overwhelming response but competitors were surprised by the budget announced by Tata. They questioned the veracity of the project. The little car facing a series of hurdles is now set to hit the roads. The car is aerodynamically structured with a dimension of 3100mm * 1500 mm * 1600 mm. On the exterior you will find clear-lens headlamps, clear-lens tail-lamp cluster, and consistent body panel gaps. The interior is packed with a host of innovations including the centrally positioned instrumentation and an assortment of advanced safety features. The key feature of the car is the rear positioned 623cc engine that transfer power to all wheels efficiently. The engine will be mated to a 4-speed manual transmission, front McPherson strut suspension, and rear independent coil spring. All these high-end technologies will be able to improve handling, stability, and performance of the car. An estimate power of 32 bhp and a fuel efficiency of about 20 km/l are also worth appreciation. It is believed that almost a decade ago when Tata’s first passenger car Indica was launched, Tata had experienced a similar downturn and recession. Surprisingly, inspite of the crisis Tata Indica became one of the leading passenger cars in the Indian car market and now the same history is expected to repeat with the Nano launch. The success of Nano also plays a crucial role in financial health of the company because Tata has experienced a heavy loss in sales of its commercial vehicles due to which the company has been unable to repay the loan it took for the acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover. With this car, Tata has redefined ‘creative designing’ and ‘frugal engineering’ proving it capability to produce a scintillating car with the best of technologies at a price as low as Rs 1 Lakh. Now, just hold your breath and get ready to feel the splash of Nano waves under the glory of sunset today. Labels: Nano, New-Car-Launch, Tata-cars
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
The world’s cheapest car ‘Nano’ is all set to roll out on Indian roads in a week’s time. As the car beholds a cheap price tag so does its advertisements. Tata has brilliantly adopted a low-cost advertisement philosophy to rustle up the Nano interest. Grippingly, the Nano is widely being advertised on social networking sites like Facebook and Orkut. These are unique online techniques to market innovative ideas and concepts. The Nano message is widespread through these sites and amazingly the car has received high-traffic. Tata Motors has spent around Rs 24 Lakh for this digital advertising campaign. And you would be surprised to know that Nano has received a countless number of comments and remarks on these networking sites. Many of the foreign car buyers have showed their interest in the Nano through these sites and are expecting the car to be driven to other countries as well. Tata has developed a strong media platform even in India where internet penetration is not as high as in the foreign countries. The company even plans to sell the Nano through online dealerships to contribute to the factor of cost saving. The key aim behind this is to make the Nano a real affordable and ultra-cheap car in all regards. Click here to browse through the Tata Nano website to know more about the car. Labels: Nano, Tata-Motors, World’s-Cheapest-Car
Monday, 16 March 2009
Bajaj’s small car that was showcased at the 2008 Auto Expo will not debut on the scheduled date. The car was earlier announced to make its debut by 2011 but now it may see a delay of five to six months. It is said that the company is not content with the design and positioning of the proposed ultra-low-cost car. The project will start from the scratch as the older project insisted on major alteration in terms of design and other details. It is sad to know that the teams who worked over a year to finalise the project will have to begin from the sketch. It is also speculated that the project could see further delay due to technical hitches as well as the financing problems at Renault’s end. During the tie-up stage between the three car manufacturers, it was decided that the power train, platform development, and supply lines would be provided by Bajaj whereas Renault-Nissan will chip in with design and engineering for the ‘small car’ project. Carrying a little higher price tag, this new car is expected to offer better performance and mileage compared to its rival Nano. Labels: Low-Cost-Car, Nano, Small-Car
Friday, 6 March 2009
Maruti is preparing its small car ‘Alto’ to compete with the proposed Nano. The car manufacturer is trying to significantly reduce the car price but not in line with the Nano price segment. The Rs 1 Lakh car has become a threat to the Indian car models especially the small cars. Even the used cars are expected to see slow sales after the launch of the Nano, forecasting the catastrophe used car dealers are cutting down the prices of the pre-owned cars. Now Maruti is trying to do the same but not with immediate response. The manufacturer feels at present there is no such need to be afraid of the Nano because right now not many consumers may be able to own the car as Tata will initially produce only limited numbers of the car. But after Nano volume gain critical mass, Maruti will announce a significant mark down in the price of the Alto. A question is still buzzing in the minds of many car enthusiasts. Why Maruti Alto and why not Maruti 800? Maruti 800 is presently the cheapest car in the country and the car manufacturer can easily push down the price of the car in line with the Nano. And overall the new M800 has all advanced and functional features that still retain the significance of Maruti’s iconic car in the car market. The only reason why Maruti800 was not chosen to take over the Nano is the incompatibility of the car’s engine to meet Bharat Stage IV emission norms. Soon all the cars plying on Indian roads have to follow stringent Bharat Stage IV emission norms. And according to Maruti the Alto is the best option as its 800 cc engine can be easily upgraded to meet the proposed emission norms in the country. It’s not easy to predict things at this stage, the exact scenario will only be revealed once the Nano actually makes its entry into the Indian car market. Labels: Maruti-800, Maruti-Suzuki-Alto, Nano
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
The brainchild of Ratan Tata ‘Nano’ that has created a benchmark in the history of global car market due to its super-thrifty engineering and distinctive concept is now set to come in European version. The European Nano will go public for the first time at the ongoing Geneva Auto Show. But will the European Nano be same as the Indian Nano? No we don’t think so. European market has comparatively higher norms when it comes to safety and emissions. And so the European Nano will also be technologically superior with better compliance to emission norms. The car is likely to have certain significant modifications and a comprehensive design change to meet the European standards and conditions. Some of the standard features in the European Nano are car audio system, a left-side wing mirror, air conditioner, and alloy wheels. The introduction of these features along with mandatory safety features will definitely increase the speculated price of the European version. And further to that the shipping cost of the car from Indian facility will add to the cost. Couple of years ago it was hard to digest the incredulous reality of the Nano. But then the fact that good things come in small packages hold true with the Nano. So, now when the Nano is all set to roll out on Indian roads, Tata is making hard attempts to introduce the car in European markets. Nano can prove to be a wakeup call for Europeans as many think that this world’s cheapest car symbolizes purity of mobility. Labels: Car-Market, Nano, Tata-cars
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
The used car dealers are getting nightmares with the approaching Nano commercial launch.
Used car dealers being afraid of the market after the Nano launch have drastically reduced the rates of the pre-owned cars. Most of them are trying to reach the margin of Rs 1 Lakh to compete with the Nano. Shockingly, prices of many mid-size cars have been slashed by over 25% and small cars by 2%. Four-to-five-year-old Ford Ikon, Maruti Esteem, Opel Corsa and Fiat Sienna are now available with a price tag of around Rs 1 Lakh. Well the used car dealers have taken a right and smart step by lowering the prices. As it is quite obvious that when an AC mid-sized car with all necessary features is available at the same price of Nano, no customer will opt to buy a Nano base variant without AC. It is also known that the prices of the A and B segment (small) cars will see a further revision after the launch of the Nano. So, Nano is not only a threat to the new existing small cars but also to the used cars. Labels: Nano, Small-Cars, Used-Cars
Experiencing a tough time last year, Tata now wants to protect its little car ‘Nano’ from evil eyes. And the company felt the best way to this is by taking it to pilgrimage. Nano being the world’s cheapest car is always dragged into one or the other controversy. After experiencing a long period of tough and challenging time, the company now wants a hurdle free commercial launch of the car. Interestingly, two factory-fresh Nanos were driven to Golden Temple in Amritsar to seek divine blessings of the shrine. White and Silver-coloured Nanos were leading admiring glances as it crossed the narrow lanes of Amritsar. Another Nano crossed the narrow and crowded lanes outside Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan where two Tata officials offered chadar at the shrine. Even there the car drew huge crowds with smiling glances. The Nano at the Golden Temple was built in the Uttarakhand factory and was driven down from Pantnagar. And the Nano driven to Ajmer was built at Pimpri, airlifted from Mumbai to Jaipur and then from Jaipur it was driven to Ajmer. The world’s cheapest car Tata Nano has just started its religious journey and is expected to travel through all the famous religious shrines of the country. Hopefully, the car receives the same warm and open-hearted welcome from the masses as it did during its debut. Labels: Nano, Tata-Motors, Worlds-Cheapest-Car
Thursday, 5 February 2009
After a long wait and series of speculations, finally Nano bookings will begin by February end. You can book the ‘People’s Car’ by paying an amount of Rs 70,000. The car can be booked at all Tata Motors dealers and various branches of State Bank of India as Tata Motors and SBI have signed an agreement for the car. Tata holds high hopes with the Nano bookings and expects a booking of over one lakh cars with a collection of Rs 700 Crore. The wait for Nano can still be longer as initially only 3,000 cars will be rolled out from the Pantnagar plant. And you will get the car only if you are lucky as the allotment will be made through a draw otherwise you have to wait for the next production cycle. So if you wish to be the proud owner of the world's cheapest car, the Nano, book the car before the booking stock closes. Labels: Nano, Tata-cars, World's Cheapest Car
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Tata Motors has already shifted its dream Nano project from West Bengal to Gujarat after experiencing the aftermaths of land issues in Singur. In Sanand, near Ahmedabad, the company has started pre-construction work with an investment of about Rs 2,000 Crore. In Gujarat, Nano is also set to be displayed at the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit 2009 (VGGIS) where a large number of domestic as well as global investors are expected to mark their presence. The decision to showcase the car in the summit may be in response to the lost significance of the world's cheapest car. Yes, the Rs 1 Lakh car was the talk of the industry when Tata announced the concept. Even when the car was displayed in the Delhi Auto Expo for the first time, it was appreciated by many car enthusiasts. But, gradually as the car launch date is continually delaying, Nano is loosing its charm among car consumers. All the consumers who were desperately waiting to buy the car are now moving away from the Nano and fixing their car buying decision on some other car model. Tata may have thought that showcasing the car once again on a huge platform may bring back its lost customers attention and ensures them that the world's cheapest car will roll with a bang on Indian roads. Labels: Auto-Expo, Nano, Tata-Motors
Friday, 5 December 2008
It seems there is no end to Nano troubles. Since the time Tata Motors has showcased the world’s cheapest car in the Auto Show, the project is facing some or the other hurdle on its way to Indian roads. After facing continuous obstacles on its path including the long series of violence at Singur plant, Tata Motors was happy when the company shifted the Nano project to Sanand in Gujarat. But Nano’s misfortune has followed Tata from West Bengal to Gujarat. Even here the company is facing a tough time to prove the ownership of the allotted land. The Gujarat High Court has asked the state government to produce documents of land acquisition that is allotted to Tata for the Nano project. Sadly, the state government did not have any documents that proved that the land was owned by Tata. The court also ordered Tata to give compensation to the farmers of the Khoda village adequately according to the market price of the land. With this, it has now become difficult to say, how many obstacles Nano still has to overcome. Labels: Auto-Shows, Nano, Tata-Motors
Monday, 1 December 2008
The Nano is expected to challenge not only new car but also the used-car market. Despite this, Maruti Suzuki is not at all worried as it expects a growth of 30 percent on its True Value (used car showroom). However, it is not necessary that the Nano will influence the used-car market because every buyer sets some different criteria before selecting a car. For instance, a buyer, who is looking for a mid-size car clubbed with luxury for an affordable price, will choose a car from the respective segment. This is one of the reasons which depicts that Nano will not affect other segment. One Lakh car is definitely a great concept but all amenities can not be accommodated in this price. So, one who wants more with low price will go for the used-car market. Maruti Suzuki recently rolled out the ‘A-star’, which was speculated to rival the Nano but with the delay of Nano’s launch, it is enjoying its space in the market. Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that the A-star will continue to grab prominence till the commercial launch of small cars like Nano and Hyundai i20. Labels: Maruti-Suzuki, Nano, New-Car
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Nano disappointed its fans once again! The people of Jharkhand were eagerly waiting for the Nano at the Jharkhand Trade Fair, which is held every year on 15th of November. The trade fair is organised every year as a part of celebration of the birth of the Jharkhand state. Nano was also expected to be present at the 10-day fair, but unfortunately Tata Motors could not bring it to the trade show due to some reasons. Tata Nano was supposed to the main attraction and even car enthusiasts were eagerly waiting for the glimpse of this ‘one Lakh’ car. However, other Tata models were on the ramp. Nano’s absence at the fair not only disappointed its fans but also the government as it has affected the revenue collection, which definitely could have boosted with the Nano’s display. Labels: Nano, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Nano with all its charm have come a long way even before it has actually launched in India. Fueling the senses of many Indian car consumers and banging the global car industry with expertise and technology, Nano has come beyond the limits of being just a car. You would be amazed to know that an 82 year old psychotherapist has done a complete research on the work culture of Nano employees and the plant. And he feels that the most awaited ultra-cheap car now goes spiritual. The way Nano has overcome challenges, the way Nano project plant employees are integrated clearly symbolizes the work culture of Indian companies. Through this the old psychotherapist reveals five aspects of work leading towards a fulfilling mission, Chintan, Manan, Karma, Shraddha and Mukti. He is still working on that. Furthermore, Dr. Kanu Bhatt from Canada in collaboration with Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences is also doing a doctoral thesis on the work culture of Nano plant. Chintan is to enable employees to help introspect on their actual duties and responsibilities, Manan is to encourage people to share their knowledge and observations with other employees, Karma is to achieve a sense of accomplishment, Sharadha co-relates to self-confidence and the trust placed among the members working under one single project, and finally Mukti symbolizes the actual picture of Indian market with a paradigm shift from a conventional image of an employee. Good to see a purely Indianized car moving from a dream to concept, concept to car, and now from car to spirituality. Labels: Car-Industry, Nano, Ultra-cheap-Car
Friday, 31 October 2008
We have been hearing about the launch of Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, for quite some time now. This lad, which was supposed to hit the roads by Diwali this year, was forced to hold its launch due to the much talk about Singur issue. Now the latest update is that the Nano’s petrol version will hit the Indian roads by mid-2009 but the Nano diesel will have to wait for some more time. The company is also planning Nano with turbo charged, 800cc, CRDi diesel engine that will carry two-cylinder and is expected to give 30 percent more mileage compared to 800cc petrol cars. Many Nano fans were waiting for its launch this Diwali and some had even postponed their car purchase but were disappointed when the news of Nano’s late delay was announced. Hope Tata will keep up its promise on Nano’s launch, atleast this time! Labels: Nano, Petrol-Cars
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
We don’t know whether it is exciting or astonishing but there has been news that Government was planning to ban small cars. This plan was aimed at easing traffic problems in big cities and expanding public transport system. Though Government is focusing more on enhancing public transport, tell me frankly how many of you actually use public transport for daily commuting. Yes, today many of you do use but what when there’ll be more small and cheap cars on Indian roads? After the launch of affordable and small cars like Tata Nano, it will be difficult to judge the actual numbers using the local transport system. So, banning on small cars is simply of no use. Whether more number of cars or more number of buses, the traffic is going to increase anyhow. Infact, it’s better to have more number of small cars rather than having buses and auto rickshaws on roads. Labels: Nano, Small-Cars
Thursday, 23 October 2008
There is a bad news for those who were eagerly waiting for the launch of the small wonder, the Nano. The 1 lakh car, Tata Nano, was scheduled to hit the Indian roads by October-December 2008. But with this delay, the Nano buyers will have to wait for few more months as the car is now announced to launch in the first quarter of 2009. The launch is delayed due to the shift of manufacturing plant from Singur to Sanand in Gujarat. The launch is postponed to provide a continuous supply of the car to its vendors. Initially, the Tata Motors has plans to introduce the car in small number. It is speculated that the company is likely to roll out 8-10-lakh Nanos within the next 3-5 years. The Tata Motors is exploring all possible ways to increase its Nano production and introduce its model soon to the Indian market. What do you think will the car be able to see the day light in the declared period? Labels: Nano, Tata-Motors
Its time for Nano! All those who are eagerly waiting for the launch of Tata Nano have something more exciting on their way. The Tata Motors is planning to give all Nano customers a golden chance to customize their cars and enjoy the world of luxury and comfort in accordance to their dreams and aspirations. You would be glad to know that the company is coming out with a number of car accessories and options to suit each and every demand that you may arise. Just to fit the car to your dreams, the company will help you load your Nano based on your budget. But yes, you then have to pay extra for customization. Obviously, you can’t expect a customized and fully loaded car with a price tag of Rs 1 lakh. So, if you are ready to make your pocket a bit lighter then you can rejoice your own world of comfort and convenience in your own Nano. Labels: Car-Accessories, Nano, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 25 September 2008
India has become a symbol for small cars! A number of small cars are in line to enter the Indian car market. First, Nano made an approach to roll out a small and cheap car on Indian roads. Following the trend, Hyundai Motor India, Honda Seil India, Maruti Suzuki, GM and now Mitsubishi also plans to introduce their small cars in the Indian market. Doesn’t it look like that Indian car manufacturers are on their way to establish a small car stable? Mitsubishi’s small car will be introduced in markets like India and China somewhere in 2010. This forthcoming global car will have a rear engine similar to the one in Nano. Though the position of the engine is same, the performance, economics and capacity vary. The new car will come with a 1.0 litre engine. So know, who is next in line for small car race? Labels: GM, Honda-Seil-India, Hyundai-Motor-India, Indian-Car, Indian-Car-Manufacturers, Maruti- Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Nano
Monday, 1 September 2008
Tata Motors has faced many hurdles since the company has started the small car project. Now, as the protests are increasing, the company appears to have a temporary shift for the Nano project. Until the issue is resolved, Tata have started some of the Nano production work in its already established plant in Uttarakhand, a state that has supported Tata in many of its operations. The state also offers lucrative tax breaks and has many of Tata’s key vendors. The decision of shifting some of the production to the Pantnagar plant was made keeping in mind the launch date of Nano. The company plans to produce almost 3,000 units a month in Uttarakhand. Despite of the turmoil at the Singur project, Ratan Tata is happy with the support and invitations it is receiving from people across the country. Even the business tycoon, Mr. Ambani has strongly backed the Nano project. Nano is Tata’s dream venture. Nothing can stop Tata to turn his dream to a reality. Nano lovers! Just wait for a month and you’ll definitely find your car rolling out. Labels: Nano, Tata-Motors
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Cheer Up! Don’t get disheartened! The first Nano will launch in October!
Since the date, Ratan Tata has established the Singur plant, some or the other obstacles have blocked the road for Nano. Land seizure issues, water logging in the plant, increased input costs and again the land protests have created a bundle of troubles in the production of the Nano. These obstacles have delayed the scheduled launch and price tag of Nano.
Huge numbers of consumers are waiting for the launch of Nano but the current land seizure issues have put a full stop to their thoughts and expectations. People are now in a dilemma whether the car will launch on the expected date or not. This confusion is right as there were news to shift the small car project from Singur. But will these rumors turn to a reality? No! Even though the company is facing hassles and troubles to deal with the land protests, the first Nano car is still expected to roll out on the expected launch date. How can one forget the strength, power and capability of Tata Motors? The company has faced several ups and downs throughout the years and today there is nothing that can obstruct the way for Tata Nano. Labels: Nano, New-Car-Launch, Tata-Motors
Monday, 25 August 2008
Tata Nano, the much hyped ultra-cheap car is in trouble. There are chances that Nano will face some obstacles at its commercial launch because of violent protests against the Singur plant continues. And if the problem worsens, the Indian top car manufacturers will move its Nano production plant from West Bengal. Tata has been getting invitation from states like Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra and Karnataka to set up the plant. The CMs of these states have clearly expressed their interest in providing land to build the production unit for Nano. There is high probability of Tata to re-set the Nano plant in Dharwad (Karnataka), as this state already accommodates Tata Plant. If the Tata Motors shifts the plant from Bengal then not only the company will have to suffer heavy loss but also the huge number of employees will be affected who are depend on the enterprise for their bread and butter. Again a hurdle for the little car, the Nano’s launch is getting hotter. Well everybody is now eyeing what new turn the agitation will take? Labels: Nano, Singur plant, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Tata Motors is already an active member in the electric car race. The company is working on the production of electric vehicles that are soon to hit the Indian car market. A recent speculation states that the Tata is now planning to introduce E-Nano, yes the electric version of the ultra-cheap car, the Nano. Don’t you think this is something exciting…the actual car model is still not out and there are rumours about the versions and variants? Though Nano is still under the veil, Tata announces the launch of diesel Nano and E-Nano. The electric version is expected to roll out seven months after the launch of Nano. The car is to be built in cooperation with the Miljoebil Grenland, Norwegian electric car specialist firm. Nothing can be commented on the Nano and its version until the car makes its first appearance in the market. Labels: Electric-Cars, Nano, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Tata is now all set to roll out its dream car, the Nano by October this year. The company has high ambitions to lure first time car buyers and two-wheelers. Tata has also established itself to beat the leading small cars from Maruti with increased production of the Nano. The company is excited for the launch but yet there is a dilemma after announcing the launch of the Tata variants that are expected to be better in all terms in comparison to the original Nano. Is this really going to affect the launch of Nano this year? Tata Motors has already acquired the Land Rover and Jaguar luxury brands from Ford Motors. Tata promises to increase the brand value and recognition of Land and Jaguar without shifting production operations from their own facilities. After the great Nano launch, Tata has also announced to start over with the production of electric cars. The announcement of electric cars launch is credited to the urgent need of fuel efficient cars with reduced emissions and high mileage. The company plans to market and sell the electric vehicle overseas as well. Tata also plans at reviving the lost image of Daimler brand presently owned by Jaguar. In short, Tata is moving ahead with high ambitions and determination to expand the car portfolios in all segments of the Indian car market. Tata is not willing to leave any segment untouched. Labels: Nano, New-Cars, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 31 July 2008
The Fiat plans to develop a two-cylinder diesel engine for the global car market including India. This two-cylinder engine is mainly designed for small cars and is known as ‘Fiat’s twin wonder’. The diesel engine is expected to be manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility in India. The company also plans to sell the same cylinder to other companies across the global car industry. Fiat has an alliance with the Tata Motors and it was expected to be a confirm consumer for this engine. But Tata Motors is producing its own twin-cylinder for its ultra-cheap car, the Nano. Maruti does not have any such kind of small diesel to fit in its small cars. But do you think will Maruti approach Fiat for its requirement? Maruti is considered to be Fiat's best stake. Through the production of this twin-cylinder diesel engine, the company is planning to strengthen its presence in India. Labels: Car-engine, Car-Manufacturers, Diesel, Fiat, Nano
Earlier we had said that Wagon R is going to replace Mumbai Taxis. Mumbai taxi owners are in talks with Maruti Suzuki for the rights and permission to run the car as taxis on roads. But don’t you think that Tata Nano will be a better option for taxi drivers in Mumbai. The Nano is soon going to launch and it can very well replace the taxicabs. Tata Motors has outfitted the car with safety features and a fuel efficient engine. Driving the Nano seems to be more cost effective for taxi owners. The People’s Car, Tata Nano, is expected to be the next target for the daily city ride. The Mumbai Taximen Union is in a dilemma which car to choose, both are fuel efficient. Don’t you think that Nano has the power to offer more profitable gains? Low cost of the car is attracting more number of taxi owners. Replacing Mumbai taxi with Wagon R will earn them the same but the initial investment would be more. Moreover, if the Nano is outfitted with air conditioner, the price tag would be much cheaper than that of an air conditioner Wagon-R. What do you think, who will replace Mumbai taxis, Wagon-R or Nano? Labels: Cabs, Nano, Taxi, WagonR
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Tata Motors Ltd. has join hands with Italy’s Fiat SpA to sell its ultra-low cost car the Nano overseas. Fiat has a strong presence in international market and that’s the reason why Tata Motors want Fiat to sell its dream car. Ratan Tata has a keen desire to spread the reach of his new car across the globe. This desire attracts him towards Fiat Motors so that the Nano is well marketed in various countries other than India. Fiat has signed a joint venture with Tata to make and distribute Tata car, engines and commercial units overseas. Tata has high hopes from this joint venture. The sluggish car sales have depressed Ratan Tata at the time when he is just about to roll out his dream car. Even with the challenges offered by high inflation, interest rates and to be increased road tax, Tata is expecting from the proposed car, the Nano, to bring out a good market for the company in India as well as overseas. Hope the join venture goes in favour of the Nano and further aid to boost up the sales. Labels: Nano, New-Cars, Tata-Motors
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
After enlightening the world’s cheapest and smallest car, Tata Motors plans to roll out luxurious and expensive cars. Tata is now targeting the other extreme of the car segment and introduce new upmarket cars in the industry. Tata has taken over the Jaguar & Land Rover and plans to roll out luxury car models under this venture. The Nano is expected to make its debut in India by the end of this year with a price tag of Rs 1 lakh, whereas the venture plans to design and manufacture luxury cars ranging somewhere between, Rs 80-85 lakh, a price at which car buyers can buy around 85 Nanos. With such a high price swing from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 85 lakh, do you think that consumers will go for it? Tata has created its own image of producing the world’s cheapest car and now shifting towards high-end segment. This step towards producing high-end cars is a way to boost up the market for Jaguar & Land Rover and establish the name of Tata as a producer of portfolio of cars in all segments. Labels: Nano, One-Lakh-Rupee-Car, Tata
Monday, 21 July 2008
The current car industry in India is revolving around cheap and fuel efficient cars. The main reason is increasing road traffic. With an increase in the number of cars on Indian roads, drivers of luxury cars are spending longer hours on road to reach their destination compared to small cars. Also, larger cars require comfortable parking space but with increasing number of cars, the parking space is decreasing. Driven by these factors and by the production of Nano, Maruti also plans to come out with its small and cheap car, Cervo. When Tata is almost ready to roll out the world’s cheapest car in India, Maruti Udyog Limited announces the launch of Cervo priced within the 1 Lakh price bracket. Maruti also plans to roll out a revamped Maruti 800 with a more contemporary look. Both these Maruti cars are proposed to roll out as tough competition against Ratan Tata’s dream car. Cervo is a mini car recently launched in Japan with an engine of 660cc offering 54 bhp. The car is compliant to Japan’s 4-star emission standards. The same car is proposed to launch in India by the end of this year with certain radical changes to comply with Indian conditions. In comparison to the Cevro, the Nano is expected to offer 30 bhp with a 700 cc petrol engine. In terms of fuel efficiency, Suzuki cars have always been the most fuel efficient cars in their respective segments. So, what will it be – Cervo or Nano? Labels: Maruti, Nano, Tata cars
The production of Tata Nano has already faced many obstacles to reach the final production stage. One more challenge approached the Nano when Maruti Suzuki organized a rural car fest in the Singur, Nano’s national production base. Organizing a car fair just before the launch of the Nano will definitely take both the car makers on an imminent battle. The primary objective of the car fair held by Maruti was to showcase a vast portfolio of Maruti cars and shell out good deals to lure customers. Through the fair, Maruti also hoped to tap into semi-urban and rural areas where the car sales are slow. It was a three day fair with a special finance section to explain car financing and other deals to prospective buyers. The fair was a big success with almost 20 cars sold out on the first day. Was this an attempt to announce deals, discounts and offers? Or was this a call for battle with the Tata? Labels: cars-India, Maruti 800, Nano
 Prospective customers of Tata Motors Nano have shifted their interest from September Nano to 2009 Nano. By this we mean that all those customers who were eagerly waiting for the launch of the Nano are now planning to wait another few months to buy Nano variants. Even though the first version of the Nano has not yet launched, Tata Motors has made an announcement to launch better versions of the Nano in early 2009. The company themselves spread the speculations that the proposed versions will be better in terms of comfort, performance and fuel efficiency. The Nano was mainly targeted towards first time buyers who were not disposed to buying high-cost, but if the company plans to roll out better cars in the same price segment then the target of buyers’ increases. A first time car buyer who has waited so long to buy a car will willingly wait a few extra months to buy the best car falling within his/her price range. With this shift in interest, the company is planning to space the launch with less deliveries in October 2008 and more in January 2009. According to the company, this will help them balance the car sales better. Labels: Nano, Small Car, Tata Motor
Thursday, 17 July 2008
 German auto major Volkswagen announces to launch a small car in 2010. The production for this car will start at its upcoming Greenfield plant at Chakan in Pune. Most car consumers have a belief that the proposed small car will compete with the Nano and decrease Tata’s market share. However, the industry news is that the small car from Volkswagen is a premium small car. The only thing common between the Volkswagen small car and the Nano is the tag “small car”. Volkswagen’s small car will be loaded with luxuries and accessories to enhance the comfort level and performance of the car. There are many Indian consumers who are currently in the hunt for a small car because of increasing on-road traffic. However, these consumers are wary of giving up the luxuries that sedans or SUVs offer. In such cases, a small car embodied with luxuries, comfortable accessories, and a fuel efficient engine wins the race to lure a wide range of car consumers. Labels: Nano, small cars, Volkswagen cars
Friday, 4 July 2008
Even though the Nano is yet to launch, speculations of Nano’s variants is in the air. Tata Motors is planning to roll out Nano variants to meet the challenges offered by the government and the market. Increase in fuel prices, environmental issues and fuel economy is expected to be resolved by the new models of the Nano. The company is prepared for the upcoming challenges and is emphasising completely on the environment friendly and fuel economic aspects. New variants are also at present under development and are expected to meet the changing requirements of global car markets. Will Tata be successful in meeting the challenges? Will it be able to bridge the gap between infrastructure, luxury, lifestyle, energy and power? Labels: Nano, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Kinetic Engineering is all set to start supplying component for Tata Motors small car project within the next two months. Good for the wonder car, the Nano, it will no more depend on other suppliers as the Kinetic Engineering is setting up assembly plant within the Singur plant and also at the Ahmednagar factory. And with the in house supply of the components the production work will speed up.
It is worth mentioning that with this, the Kinetic engineering will have a good comeback. Since last two years, the company has been undergoing an extensive restructuring and now it has diverted its two wheeler business towards auto components supply. Well, both the enterprise will be equally benefitted. Labels: Car-components, Nano
Friday, 20 June 2008
Nano ready to roll out with expensive loans! Tata’s newest and cheapest car is ready to roll out on Indian roads. The car has brought a great threat to car financers. It is believed that for a car of Rs 1 lakh, none of the well-off people will apply for car loan. The loan applicants will include people with much lower incomes and the number would definitely be high. Most of the private financers have decided not to finance the Nano. The interest rate of the Nano car loan is expected to be about 18%. The company proposed the design and production of this car for the people who can’t afford high priced cars. But the increased loan interest is compensating for the low cost price. Don’t you think it’s again a big demarcation between the rich and poor? This is an expected delinquency during the launch. Rest, let’s wait and watch! Labels: Car-Loans, Nano
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
We know that everyone has enough of Tata lately. Since January it has been in news for several reasons like launching the world’s cheapest car to acquiring the ultra luxurious brand of Jaguar and Land Rover in March last week. But the company does not fail to impress the hardcore business houses of the world. Among the Indian car manufacturer, it is fast rising and the most well known name in the world. Tata is the first Indian brand to achieve a position in the list of largest global brands.
It ranks 57th among the top hundred brands of the world. Part of the credit for achieving this position goes to acquisition of British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover. The buyout has pushed the Indian company to global limelight. We hope that the company may just scale the number higher when the little wonder Nano is launched in October-November this year. Labels: Nano, Tata Motors
Friday, 18 April 2008
When Tata Motors announced the availability of Rs 1 lakh car Nano by October many were left wondering what would be the situation of our already overcrowded roads. But this fear seems not to be a reality in the near past. News is that Tata Motors will be rolling out just 50,000 cars from its Singur plant during 2008–09. Vendors associated with the people's car project told expect an output of around 15,000 units between September and December going up briskly to 35,000 units during January-March of this fiscal. Tata Motors has already announced that the bulk production would only start in 2008–10. Besides its plant in India, Tata Motors has plans to manufacture and assemble Nano cars in South Africa for the African market. Labels: Nano, Tata Motors
Friday, 28 March 2008
Many who are expecting reduction in the price of Maruti-800 after Tata Nano’ appearance at Auto expo, will be disappoint to know the fact Maruti will not reduce any price of maruti-800 in future to compete with one lakh car Tata nano as Maruti does not want to compete with nano and is not even thinking to manufacture any new small car on the lines of ultra cheap car, Tata nano. Before Tata nano’s appearance, Maruti-800 was considered as one of the cheapest small car available in the country for many middle class families. When Tata motors have confirmed its production of one lakh car, many had thought that maruti would cut the price of maruti-800 on par with one lakh car to compete with nano. But now that suspense is over as Maruti openly clarified its intention that it will not reduce or cut down the price of Maruti-800 to compete with nano. Such honesty statement by maruti will really create conducive atmosphere in auto market leaving no place for unhealthy competition. Labels: Auto market competition, Car-Sales, Expansion in business, Maruti 800, Nano, One Lakh Car, small cars
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Tata Motors has taken the entire world by storm when it unveiled world’s cheapest car Nano at auto expo and earned the reputation of being mass car producer. By acquiring Ford’s luxury and premium brand Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors has also proved its commitment towards producing high end class cars. It added one more jewel in the Tata’s crown. Tata has taken very decisive and bold step by acquiring JLR brand from global player Ford. Tata has become a world-class car maker by clinching this deal for $2.3 billion. With this deal, Tata Motors has set the entire auto world on fire and also proved global players wrong who thought Tata can only make cheapest car than high end model as it will now produce cars ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 1 crore. Labels: Auto market competition, Nano, One Lakh Car, Tata Motors, Ultra cheap cars
Thursday, 21 February 2008
A lot of changes have been taking place in the small car segment since Tata Motors unveiled their Rs. 1 lakh car ‘Nano’ at the auto expo. It has encouraged many car manufacturers to start their own small cars on the lines of the Nano. Previously, I had read about Bajaj, Mahindra, Nissan and Renault planning to bring out cars similar to the Nano. Now, I just found out that Suzuki had prepared ground and had taken up a small car project called ‘A’ long before the launch of the Nano at the expo.
It’s a big challenge for car manufacturers to fit their small cars with efficient engines and good standard equipment. It seems to me that many car manufacturers still have no clear idea as to what type of engine would suit their ultra-cheap small car. I know that Suzuki’s small car will be equipped with a 660 cc engine and i believe Suzuki is the first to finalise an engine for the small car project.
Article Submitted by Murali Labels: Nano, One Lakh Car, Small Car, Suzuki, Tata, Ultra cheap cars
Friday, 15 February 2008
I have always appreciated Tata for their exemplary social responsibility programmes. I recently came across news that Tata has employed 80 youths from the displaced Singur farm land area into their company. These youths are now being given 15-month training to turn them into multi-skilled workers. They will be given on-the-job training at the Tata Motors facility.
I believe this will give major relief to the West Bengal and Nandigram-Singur farmers protest issue. I am not here to take any sides in the protest. I am just conveying my thoughts over the developments - that is all. Tata should employ more people from the local population. This will help turn the once-poor town into another Jamshedpur.
Article Submitted by VJ Kumar Labels: car jobs, employment, Nano, Tata
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
I recently came across a news report in New York Times on the web which said that Nano drivers, being first-time drivers, will cause more accidents. I strongly object to this view. I am of the opinion that first-time drivers are more careful than the expert drivers. I worked as a teacher in a car training school for some time and found that 95 percent of first-time drivers liked to keep moderate speeds, adhered to traffic rules, and allowed ambulances by when required. Their only drawback was that they were slow. Look at the expert drivers, particularly taxi drivers who are most experienced in street driving. They are most rash and do not care for life or property of others. How can you blame first-time drivers for all accidents? It is a misplaced theory. Cars are inanimate things, but a careless driver can cause accidents – first-time or expert regardless. Article Submitted by Rashmi MurthyLabels: Driving experience, Nano, New car drivers
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Nano’s godfather Ratan Tata has been nominated for the second highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan. He has already received the Padma Bhushan award in 2000. A little peep into his personal life will reveal the secret of his success. Born to Parsi parents, he is one of the most respected and successful businessmen. After pursuing his assignment for a short period in Los Angeles, California, he returned to his home country and took up responsibility of his family business, turning down an offer from IBM. His hard work and dedication gave him the position of a group chairman in 1991. The first Indian passenger car ‘Indica’ was rolled out by them in 1998. Why am I telling you all this? Because I admire this guy and the achievement he has made shows that anyone, including me, can make it to the top! Article submitted by Crown Jewel Labels: Nano, Ratan-Tata, Tata
Monday, 28 January 2008
Every newspaper, every magazine, and every person, including kids, have been talking about the one-lakh Nano. Let’s take a break from the ‘One Lakh Car’ and divert our mind to something new like …the ‘Public car’. What kind of a car is this?
Hyundai Motors India is putting their brilliant thoughts together to bring out a car that will suit India as well as other eastern countries. This will be again for the small car segment, definitely a tough competitor for Nano. We have to wait for some more time to know more details about it but it is expected to be rolled out in three years.
Hyundai’s others models like the Santro in the B segment, Getz Prime, i10 in the B+ segment, the Accent and Verna in the C segment, the Elantra in the D segment, the Sonata Embera in the E segment, and the Tucson in the SUV segment are already a success. Only time can tell who is going to rule the road - the ‘Peoples car’ or the ‘Public car’? Labels: Hyundai, Nano, One Lakh Car
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Tata plans to come up with an electric car. I am happy to note that Tata Motors has considered making a green car for Indian roads. On one hand the company is manufacturing Nano, which is likely to raise pollution levels in India even though they claim that it has passed the Euro emission tests, and on the other hand there is a plan for an electric car. The company seems to be heading in all directions. It seems it is in a tearing hurry to make it big in the car industry. Tata need to thoroughly think of a strategy to make good feasible cars for the use of the common middle-class man across the world. Electric cars have performed poorly in India mainly because of re-charging problems, low output, and absolutely no help as petrol bunks. Tata needs to develop a performance oriented electric car if it wants to compete in this line of cars being manufactured. Submitted by RajuLabels: Electric Car, Nano, Tata
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Well, Tata Motors has launched the Magic Iris in Jaipur and the vehicle would grace the other cities in the following months.
