During its big debut in Mumbai yesterday, Tata chairman Ratan Tata told reporters that although the Nano doesn't currently have anti-lock brakes, airbags or significant bumpers of any kind, it could meet U.S. safety and emissions standards within a few years.
With a price equivalent to $2,000, the Nano would undercut the current cheapest car on the market by at least $7,000. Of course, upfitting Nanos to U.S. standards will probably double the price. Would anybody care at $4,000?
Inside Line News: Tata Motors Unveils Production Version of the Nano
ctpax says:
02:38 PM, 03/24/09
NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!
bankerdanny says:
02:41 PM, 03/24/09
I suppose there would be some market, but having watched the Yugo/Hyundai debacles, I wouldn't take a Nano for free.
I would rather spend my $4k on a high mileage established brand with ample parts availability and huge number of experienced mechanics than a new brand design to be cheap.
minibro77 says:
02:54 PM, 03/24/09
Nope!
greenpony says:
03:11 PM, 03/24/09
Sorry, no interest.
firstwagon says:
04:21 PM, 03/24/09
I love the idea of a cheap simple easy to work on car. However there's no way I would be one of the first to buy one.
Maybe after a couple years if it proved itself to be rugged and it wasn't going to disappear from our market along with all replacement parts.
Right now a mint low mileage one owner Geo Metro can be had for that price and that's a better choice.
stovt001 says:
06:21 PM, 03/24/09
Great, so now more cars that will not be maintained in any way will add even further to traffic. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
altimadude00 says:
07:15 PM, 03/24/09
There are so many used cars that can be had for $4000 that are more desirable than a Nano. I would say....NO!
firstwagon says:
08:36 PM, 03/24/09
"Great, so now more cars that will not be maintained in any way will add even further to traffic. Driving is a privilege, not a right."
Why do you say Nano's won't be maintained?
firstwagon says:
08:43 PM, 03/24/09
Oh and I do agree driving is a privilege, not a right. However I think who gets to drive should be based on driver skill not on how much money they have.
If someone is a skilled and careful driver then he/she should be allowed to drive even if all he can afford is a Nano.
I see a lot of bad drivers in nice cars. They should be the ones walking or on the bus.
ronvpr says:
11:00 PM, 03/24/09
You haev GOT to be KIDDING? I wonder what would happen in a crash between a SUV and a Nano? You're DEAD!
brn says:
07:23 AM, 03/25/09
"Why do you say Nano's won't be maintained?"
At first, that was my thought. Then I shifted gears. With something as simple a a break job costing ~$1K, how much money are you really going to put into a $4K car? Sure you could do it yourself, but what percentage of these things would be purchased by tinkerers?
greenpony says:
10:03 AM, 03/25/09
"I see a lot of bad drivers in nice cars."
What is it about BMW drivers that makes them overly aggressive, uncourteous, and openly disdainful of the law?