Would You Buy a Tata Nano?

If you haven’t been reading your favorite automotive magazine over the past year, then you’ve missed out on the big following of the little car from India: the Tata Nano. In short, literally, the Nano is four-door “ultra” compact sedan/hatch, measuring in at 10.2 feet long (122.4 inches) by 4.9 feet wide (58.8 inches) by 5.3 feet high (63.6 inches). Compare that to the smallest four-door hatch sold in America, the Honda Fit, which measures in at 13.1 feet by 5 feet by 5.5 feet (157.4×60x66.5), and the Honda would look like a moving van compared to the little Tata.

Another interesting note is something the owner of Tata Motors, Ratan Tata, is very proud of: it’s basement pricing. If you could buy this vehicle (we in the States cannot at the moment), you would pay less than $2,000 for the base model! Of course, that price includes admission and not much else. Luxuries that we are accustomed to, such as a radio, power items, and air condition, are all options. But even added to the bottom line, you wouldn’t be spending much coin.

My question though is, would the Nano work in the United States?. I know we have been selling diminutive vehicles similar to the stumpy Tata for decades (Honda, Chevrolet, Mini, etc.). However, I want to know if we, as an automotive society, are willing to not only give up our space, but our luxuries too? Are we willing to go back to the days of the first Volkswagen Beetles, the original Toyota Corollas, even as far back as the original Model T, where all you purchased on a vehicle were a body, four wheels, and an engine?

It’s interesting to see a scenario such as this, where a developing country is attempting to bring an inexpensive mode of transportation that everyone can afford. Think of that original Model T: All owners needed back then in a vehicle was enough room for the family, their farming supplies, and the ability to start every morning.

But would a vehicle of this small statue, with its zero creature comforts, make it in our world of big screen TVs, Big Macs, and three-ton SUVs? Could we go back to that need for a basic, inexpensive vehicle to get us to and from work, without any style or pizazz that we are accustomed to?

Tata Nano Web site

I don’t see it being far off. I don’t think people are willing to give up the cars they love, but for an every day commute car, I’d buy one. Of course I’d keep my fun cars - that’s part of who I am. And I’d keep any utility cars out of necessity, but if the Nano came to the states for $2,000 or even $3,000 I’d buy it to drive to work and back every day, maybe some longer travel. Even if the interior does look like it was carved from clay.

I don’t see it working on a larger scale. People think that a car with only four speakers and a single CD slot is the interm level in a car. Or that a car without automatic climate control is to pedestrian. People are too confused about what they want and what they really need. You don’t need a Bose/harmon kardon/Levinson audio system in your $15000 car simply because you want it.

However, I do see this car working for the lower income bracket. Something like this is perfect for them: They get reliable transportation (hopefully) at an incredibly affordable price. The ability to dump some rust bucket gas guzzler for an efficient sedan with a warranty sounds like it would be a good idea for a lot of people.

You know what it reminds me of? The Peel P50. Top Gear did a hilarious review on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mio5fTKqWgM