Alex’s Notes:

Tata Motors has just announced its latest debut, the Nano. Coming in at $2500.00, it will bring personal auto-ownership to a whole new group of people. You think the price of oil is high now, just wait until 900 million Chinese and Indian consumers own one of these.

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Engadget

While many around the globe have their eyes fixated on the events going down in Las Vegas this week, the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, India is managing to steal at least a hint of the limelight. Announced today, Tata Motors’ $2,500 “1-Lakh” car will actually see production in India later this year, and it has affectionately been dubbed the NANO.

For those not keen on such a title, it can also be recognized as “The People’s Car,” but it seems “The Person’s Car” may have been more appropriate. Nevertheless, this little bundle of automotive joy will feature an all-aluminum, two-cylinder engine that can deliver around 54 US miles per gallon, and while stripped down would be a gross understatement, it does promise to “exceed current regulatory (read: safety) requirements.” Hit the read link for Tata’s official release along with a plethora of photos.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/tata-motors-2-500-nano-automobile-gets-official/

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Herald Tribune

NEW DELHI: Tata Motors unveiled the world’s cheapest car Thursday, bringing car ownership closer to millions of consumers in emerging markets.

The 4-seater Nano, with an engine around 625 cc, will have a dealer price of 100,000 rupees, or $2,500, and will go on sale later this year. Taxes and profit margins will push up the price for buyers, but it will still cost about half the cheapest car currently on the market, a 25-year old model from rival Maruti Suzuki

The compact but curvy Nano stands in sharp contrast to the luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands that Tata is negotiating to acquire from Ford Motor.

“Let me assure you and our critics the car we have designed will meet all safety norms and all foreign environmental criteria,” Ratan Tata, the Tata chairman, said at the Auto Expo in New Delhi as he unveiled what has been dubbed the “People’s Car.”

Hundreds of people crowded into the pavilion to catch the moment, standing on chairs to get the best view as Tata introduced the car and then drove it onto the stage.

Tata planned the car years ago as a safer and affordable alternative for the millions who often ferry families of four, plus baggage, on motorbikes and scooters.

“It’s a dream come true,” Ashok Singh, a constable with the Delhi Police, said at the show. “I look forward to buying that car. My wife will be really happy.”

The car arrives at a time when oil has topped $100 a barrel, the move to fuel-efficient “green” cars is gaining momentum, and a wave of nostalgia has spurred sales of brands such as BMW’s Mini and the Fiat 500 Cinquecento.

Tata has said it will initially produce about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of 1 million units.

It has sent global car makers scurrying to make their own version of a low-cost car to meet the needs of cost-conscious consumers in emerging economies such as China, India and Russia.

Ford this week said it would build a small car in India within two years, while the alliance of Nissan Motor and Renault, which has made a big success of its no-frills Logan sedan, plans a $3,000 car with India’s Bajaj Auto

Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda and Fiat have also said they are looking at small cars for emerging markets where strong economic growth has made car ownership a reality for millions.

Tata said it would focus on the home market for two to three years before considering exports of the Nano to Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/10/business/10car.php

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Reuters

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Tata Motors Ltd (TAMO.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) (TTM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) unveiled the world’s cheapest car on Thursday, bringing car ownership closer to millions of consumers in emerging markets.

The 4-seater Nano, with an engine around 625 cc, will have a dealer price of 100,000 rupees ($2,500), and will go on sale later this year. Taxes and profit margins will push up the price to drivers, but it will still cost about half the cheapest car on today’s market, a 25-year old model from rival Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research).

The compact but curvy Nano stands in sharp contrast to the luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands that Tata is negotiating to acquire from Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

“Let me assure you and our critics the car we have designed will meet all safety norms and all foreign environmental criteria,” Chairman Ratan Tata said as he proudly unveiled what had been dubbed the “People’s Car” at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Hundreds of people crowded into the pavilion to see the launch, standing on chairs to get the best view as Tata introduced and then drove the car onto the stage.

Tata planned the car years ago as a safer and affordable alternative for the millions who often ferry families of four, plus baggage, on motorbikes and scooters.

“It’s a dream come true,” Ashok Singh, a constable with the Delhi Police, said at the show. “I look forward to buying that car. My wife will be really happy.”

For additional stories, pictures and video from the Auto Expo go to in.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/special

The car arrives at a time when oil has topped $100 a barrel, the move to fuel-efficient “green” cars is gaining momentum, and a wave of nostalgia has spurred sales of brands such as BMW’s (BMWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) Mini and the Fiat (FIA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) 500 Cinquecento.

Tata said the car would have a rear-mounted engine and travel 20 km per liter. It would be offered in a basic model and two deluxe variants.

Tata has said it will initially produce about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of 1 million units.

It has sent global car makers scurrying to make their own version of a low-cost car to meet the needs of cost-conscious consumers in emerging economies such as China, India and Russia.

Ford this week said it would build a small car in India within two years, while the alliance of Nissan Motor (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Renault (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), which has made a big success of its no-frills Logan sedan, plans a $3,000 car with India’s Bajaj Auto (BJAT.BO: Quote, Profile, Research).

Volkswagen (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), Toyota (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Honda (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Fiat have also said they are looking at small cars for emerging markets where strong economic growth has made car ownership a reality for millions.

Tata said it would focus on the home market for 2-3 years before considering exporting the Nano to countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSDEL00094120080110?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

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