Tata Nano's US Version Coming in 3 Years, to Undergo Additional Crash Tests

January 5th, 2010 by Mridul Chadha

Tata Motors Chairman, Mr. Ratan Tata announced at the Delhi Auto Expo that his company is working on a Nano variant for the American market which could be ready in about three years.

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Mr. Tata said that the American version will have a bigger engine and would undergo additional crash tests in order to answer the apprehensions about its safety. An electric version for the developed markets is also said to be in the works.

With the acquisition of Jaguar-Land Rover Tata Motors is looking to bring luxury cars to the growing Indian market while marketing its cleaner electric cars like the Nano and Indica EV in developed markets like the US and Europe.

Launched in January 2008 during the 9th Delhi Auto Expo, the Nano ran into trouble with the issue of land acquisition in Singur, in the state of West Bengal, from where the production plant had to shifted to Gujarat after violence broke out in Singur. Singur plant had to roll out the first 100,000 cars which were to be allotted to applicants selected through a computer draw. However, the first Nano drove out of the company’s Pune (Maharashtra) plant.

The sky-rocketing steel prices put pressure on the company’s performance but Mr. Tata reassured the customers that there will be no hike in the car’s price. The company may consider increasing the price once the first 100,000 cars have been delivered.

Tata Motors also unveiled the Nano Europa at the Geneva Motor Show 2009. The European version would provide high fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100 grams per kilometer and is rumored to cost about $6,000.

Skeptics had questioned the car’s safety aspects at the time of the launch. The company plans to develop tougher and heavier variants for the developed markets which can pass tougher crash tests.

Image Credit: David Villarreal Fernandez (Creative Commons)

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Tags: Indica EV, Nano Electric, Nano Europa, tata motors, Tata Nano, US Variant Nano

About the Author

Mridul Chadha currently works as Head-News & Data at Climate Connect Limited, a market research and analytics firm in the renewable energy and carbon markets domain. He earned his Master’s in Technology degree from The Energy & Resources Institute in Renewable Energy Engineering and Management. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering. Mridul has a keen interest in renewable energy sector in India and emerging carbon markets like China and Australia.

bob

Every auto that sells in the U.S. has to be so over priced ,the NANO will sell for the yuppy high price Greed in the U.S.LOL don’t forget the B.S OVER TAX…. P.S. Batteries are cheap to make ,the greedy s.o.b.’s don”t want them cheap…..
bob

Every auto that sells in the U.S. has to be so over priced ,the NANO will sell for the yuppy high price Greed in the U.S.LOL don’t forget the B.S OVER TAX…. P.S. Batteries are cheap to make ,the greedy s.o.b.’s don”t want them cheap…..
JJ

I know its ugly and kind of lame looking but I actually wouldn’t mind giving it a fair try esp the EV version. I just have to wonder how Tata can make a battery any cheaper than China though so the battery cost is going to be disproportionate to the body shell. It would also be a chance to evaluate India’s high technology.

Still I’d feel pretty guilty about having the thing shipped halfway around the world just so as to get a bargain car, a Walmart car.

At one time the Russians used to export the Moskvich, around Europe so my expectations are quite high….

Now I must get back to reading more on the energy costs of cars in “Sustainable Energy — without the hot air” by David MacKay, the Walmart edition $0.
JJ

I know its ugly and kind of lame looking but I actually wouldn’t mind giving it a fair try esp the EV version. I just have to wonder how Tata can make a battery any cheaper than China though so the battery cost is going to be disproportionate to the body shell. It would also be a chance to evaluate India’s high technology.

Still I’d feel pretty guilty about having the thing shipped halfway around the world just so as to get a bargain car, a Walmart car.

At one time the Russians used to export the Moskvich, around Europe so my expectations are quite high….

Now I must get back to reading more on the energy costs of cars in “Sustainable Energy — without the hot air” by David MacKay, the Walmart edition $0.
http://getstarted.nexyoo.me/ Nexyoo

Great news. I wonder how much it will cost here.
http://getstarted.nexyoo.me/ Nexyoo

Great news. I wonder how much it will cost here.