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Is India's Nano 'the Model T' of the 21st century'?

GasBuddy Blog -- The name Tata may not mean anything to you, but Tata Motors has been making trucks in India for 50 years. It's also that nation's third-largest automobile maker with sales that have risen to more than 2 million today.

Ratan Tata, chairman of the 143-year old family congolomerate, anticipates that India's billion-plus population may create an automotive market to rival the U.S., China and Japan...

Tata plans to export to the U.S. a no-frills Nano, the world's cheapest car, within the next three years.

USA TODAY says that it's currently about $3,500 in India but would cost about $10,000 in America and even at that price would still be the cheapest new car available in the U.S.

When Automobilemag...

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Submitted Oct 22, 2012 By: PD

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18andLife Rookie Author Charleston Posts:11 Points:3,510 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 9:07:14 PM Ignore 18andLife Report Abuse No airbags, 1 mirror, drum brakes? From the truck manufacturer that makes notoriously dangerous heavy trucks made almost entirely out of wood including the frame? I don't see great things coming from this company, and I doubt the US would ever tolerate their vehicles on US roads. Not the next Volkswagen Beetle because those cars were safe and did not catch on fire by themselves. The fuel efficiency is 25kmpl but I don't know what that is in MPG. The car as-is will not meet US standards of safety.
thezoomers71 Rookie Author Des Moines Posts:10 Points:76,025 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 8:05:34 AM Ignore thezoomers71 Report Abuse yugo
Lobsters11 Rookie Author Sacramento Posts:29 Points:16,075 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:46:48 PM Ignore Lobsters11 Report Abuse I don't like it.
captcarl5 Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:421 Points:178,055 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 7:41:13 PM Ignore captcarl5 Report Abuse a cheap pinto maybe
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,370 Points:1,246,350 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 7:12:52 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Maybe a modern day AMC Pacer?
nickatnite Veteran Author Indianapolis Posts:370 Points:280,965 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 3:54:26 PM Ignore nickatnite Report Abuse I would say this is a car that most Americans would not purchase.
JXQW Champion Author Kansas City Posts:2,787 Points:684,925 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 3:25:37 PM Ignore JXQW Report Abuse I will buy it if the quality is descent
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,359 Points:330,085 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 2:30:26 PM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse Good luck. Dealer network? Does anybody remember the Yugo?
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,090 Points:2,348,435 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 1:55:55 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Is India's Nano 'the Model T' of the 21st century'? Much like the early vehicles of the US, bare bones and minimum crash protection (if any). The Nano or any other vehicle must meet US highway standards before anything happens in this country. This vehicle reminds me of the Yugo or Geo when they first came out. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,374 Points:2,261,680 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 1:27:03 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse It doesn't look like a big seller
myambro Champion Author Sacramento Posts:3,209 Points:1,055,400 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 12:44:15 PM Ignore myambro Report Abuse Nope.
Focus2 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,896 Points:1,920,645 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:46:53 AM Ignore Focus2 Report Abuse I didn't see this article yesterday, so its news to me. Since it only sells for about $3,000 in India, who gets the extra $7,000 in the USA for this piece of junk?
USNDVR All-Star Author Jacksonville Posts:769 Points:535,280 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:44:55 AM Ignore USNDVR Report Abuse More like the Yugo of the 21'st century
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,078 Points:1,082,330 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:42:36 AM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse It may be the Nano of the 21st century.
USNDVR All-Star Author Jacksonville Posts:769 Points:535,280 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:40:06 AM Ignore USNDVR Report Abuse Mr. Ratatat Tat better be careful about patent infringement. The Flintstones already had a car like this. If anyone pays $10,000 for a car with 12" wheels and a 2 cylinder engine smaller than most motorcycle engines, then they have more money than sense.
jpj23 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,720 Points:1,101,650 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:39:02 AM Ignore jpj23 Report Abuse This was posted yesterday. Not "news" anymore.
kyjlh Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,633 Points:655,430 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:37:28 AM Ignore kyjlh Report Abuse ok
NO_SWEAT Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,360 Points:1,082,240 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:35:13 AM Ignore NO_SWEAT Report Abuse Same guys own Range Rover, Jaguar etc. etc.
waterwerks Veteran Author New Mexico Posts:349 Points:185,930 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:35:11 AM Ignore waterwerks Report Abuse old
ultm8opie Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,206 Points:535,745 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:35:10 AM Ignore ultm8opie Report Abuse Normally I would love a nice pair of Tata's, but I'll think differently now.
dan30thz28 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,928 Points:1,984,940 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:35:08 AM Ignore dan30thz28 Report Abuse Not good for the long term I'm sure...at that price.
rampower80 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,059 Points:464,840 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:34:31 AM Ignore rampower80 Report Abuse Probably more like the Yugo of the future.
mackconsult Champion Author Portland Posts:5,309 Points:864,355 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:34:22 AM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse Now that is cool
kuma2000 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,238 Points:677,075 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:33:52 AM Ignore kuma2000 Report Abuse not for me
DrLyon Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,665 Points:1,214,755 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:32:35 AM Ignore DrLyon Report Abuse The new Yugo...
jamofsocal All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:946 Points:232,120 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:26:07 AM Ignore jamofsocal Report Abuse We mock, but how long before we outsource our auto making to India?
REVLAW Champion Author San Antonio Posts:10,451 Points:2,010,170 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:24:03 AM Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse Remember the Yugo!
Der_Meister All-Star Author Salt Lake City Posts:801 Points:63,660 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:21:12 AM Ignore Der_Meister Report Abuse ok
pper Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:3,099 Points:672,795 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:20:51 AM Ignore pper Report Abuse old news
WhiteNight18 Sophomore Author Phoenix Posts:245 Points:212,865 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:20:48 AM Ignore WhiteNight18 Report Abuse regardless of how most of us think about it - there will be people who will buy it - like the Yugo
JSX515 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,729 Points:804,520 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:20:26 AM Ignore JSX515 Report Abuse hum
Ram4Sam All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:889 Points:548,870 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:14:34 AM Ignore Ram4Sam Report Abuse ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..............
BigDenOH Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,364 Points:581,275 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:12:59 AM Ignore BigDenOH Report Abuse Just like the uh.... Can't remember!
2granny Champion Author Michigan Posts:9,590 Points:1,469,180 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:12:37 AM Ignore 2granny Report Abuse NO THANKS, it looks like a matchbox.
CocoPaz Champion Author Santa Barbara Posts:2,390 Points:326,320 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:12:19 AM Ignore CocoPaz Report Abuse Northglennbill: You beast, you.... Is it something about the headlights...? Companies really need to research what their products name mean in other languages. BTW, "slut" means "sale" in Swedish and "sale" means "dirty" in French. CP, with the Profound Thoughts of the Day...
73amx Champion Author Allentown Posts:1,188 Points:462,690 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:11:10 AM Ignore 73amx Report Abuse No frills, small, don't think so
Gassed01 Champion Author Toronto Posts:6,369 Points:1,805,715 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:10:24 AM Ignore Gassed01 Report Abuse The description sounds like a fancy golf cart. What is the estimated mileage?
knutzAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,248 Points:372,680 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:10:03 AM Ignore knutzAL Report Abuse Think I'll pass. Don't need another disposable car.
skysteve1 Champion Author Victoria Posts:1,158 Points:379,160 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:10:02 AM Ignore skysteve1 Report Abuse I think so
50k Rookie Author Cincinnati Posts:44 Points:886,605 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:09:38 AM Ignore 50k Report Abuse For those discounting Tata, they've owned Jaguar and Land Rover for the past 4 years.
Legend1500 All-Star Author Midland Odessa Posts:964 Points:570,375 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:09:32 AM Ignore Legend1500 Report Abuse I loved the yugo.
MVP1 Champion Author New York Posts:1,401 Points:1,516,805 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:07:03 AM Ignore MVP1 Report Abuse Another Yugo or will this one work?
ChristinaCricke Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,758 Points:770,500 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:06:04 AM Ignore ChristinaCricke Report Abuse MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm
YodaON Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,942 Points:781,985 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:05:15 AM Ignore YodaON Report Abuse they will sell some but not me
bigmace111 Champion Author Albany Posts:2,738 Points:617,525 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:04:58 AM Ignore bigmace111 Report Abuse Too mall to be practical, even at that price.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,442 Points:1,475,845 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:04:07 AM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse The name Tata does mean something to me but probably not what the car makers from India wanted it to mean.
nehemiah Champion Author Portland Posts:4,776 Points:933,540 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:02:10 AM Ignore nehemiah Report Abuse maybe
nanu4u21 Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,118 Points:241,710 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:01:26 AM Ignore nanu4u21 Report Abuse Smaller than Smart for 2?
Lologogo Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,314 Points:356,390 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 10:58:48 AM Ignore Lologogo Report Abuse If they want to market in the US they'll have to adhere to our strict enviromental policies, unlike in India where pollution doesn't seem to be of that much concern yet.
LuckyD43 Champion Author Long Island Posts:32,100 Points:2,170,995 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 10:58:33 AM Ignore LuckyD43 Report Abuse OMG, the whole car is 122"? That was the WHEELBASE of my old car. I could NEVER feel safe in a car THAT small. It's nothing more than a coffin on wheels.