Tata Nano

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Tata Nano

Manufacturer

Tata Motors

Also called

one-lakh car

Production

2008present

Assembly

Pantnagar, Uttarkhand, India[1] Charodi, Gujarat, India (since June 2010)[2]

Class

City car

Body style

4-door

Layout

RR layout

Engine

2 cylinder SOHC petrol Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) allaluminium 624 cc (38 cu in)

Transmission

4 speed synchromesh withoverdrive in 4th

Wheelbase

2,230 mm (87.8 in)[3]

Length

3,099 mm (122.0 in)[3]

Width

1,495 mm (58.9 in)[3]

Height

1,652 mm (65.0 in)[3]

Kerb weight

600 kg (1,300 lb)635 kg (1,400 lb)[3]

Designer

Justin Norek of Trilix, Pierre Castinel[4]

The Tata Nano is an inexpensive, rear-engined, four-passenger city car built by the Indian company Tata Motors and is aimed primarily at the Indian domestic market. Tata Motors began selling its "one-lakh car" in March, 2009.[5] This nickname is due to the Nano's price point, near 100,000 ( US$ 2100). It is the cheapest road car in the world today,[6]though the price continues to rise[7] due to increasing material costs.[8] In 2008 the Financial Times reported: "If ever there were a symbol of Indias ambitions to become a modern nation, it would surely be the Nano, the tiny car with the even tinier price-tag. A triumph of homegrown engineering, the Nano encapsulates the dream of millions of Indians groping for a shot at urban prosperity."[9] "Homegrown engineering" is a relative term here as much of the systems and parts used in the Nano may not have been developed or produced in India.[10] The Tata Nano has become somewhat symbolic as a modern 'people's car', often being compared to the likes of the Ford Model T and the original Volkswagen Beetle.
[11]

The Nano has also become a status symbol in its home market of India, where it

provides an opportunity for new car ownership for people who would otherwise never own one, and for the wealthy to join the trend.[12]
Contents
[hide]

1 History 1.1 Expectations

o o o o o o o o o o
8 Awards 2 Price

1.2 Singur factory pullout 1.3 Design 1.3.1 Cost cutting features

3 Model versions 3.1 Europa 3.2 Export 4 Technical specifications 5 Alternative-energy engines 5.1 Compressed-air engine 5.2 Diesel 5.3 Electric vehicle 6 Safety concern 7 Effects 7.1 Safer travel 7.2 Pollution increase 7.3 Indian used car market

9 In the media 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

[edit]History

Seeing an opportunity in the great number of Indian families with two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled vehicles,[7] Tata Motors began development of an affordable car in 2003.[11] The purchase price of this no frills auto was brought down by dispensing with most nonessential features, reducing the amount of steel used in its construction, and relying on low-cost Indian labor.[13] The introduction of the Nano received much media attention due to its low price,
[14]

and the car was available to buy throughout India in early 2011.[15]

The Nano's development was foreshadowed by the 2005 success of the affordable, 4-wheeled Tata Ace truck.[11]

[edit]Expectations

Many have had great expectations for this small car,[16] some perhaps going a bit too far. One study, by Indian rating agency CRISIL, thought the Nano would expand the nation's car market by 65%.[17] It was also anticipated that the 2009 launch of the car would greatly affect the used-car market, with prices dropping 25-30% in the lead up to the launch. However, due to limited supply (customers had a waiting period of up to one year) used-car prices reverted to their former figures.[18][19] Sales of new Suzuki Alto-based Maruti 800s (considered the Nano's nearest competitor) dropped by 20%, and used ones by 30% immediately following the unveiling of the Nano. As Autocar journalist Mark Rainford summarizes: People are asking themselvesand uswhy they should pay, say, 250,000 Rupees for a Maruti Alto, when they can wait and get a brand new Nano for less in a few months time, a car that is actually bigger.[20]

Design

A Tata Nano in silver.

The car's exterior was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering.[11] Cost cutting features The Nano's design implements many cost-reducing innovations.

The Nano's trunk is only accessible from inside the car, as the rear hatch One windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair[14] No power steering, unnecessary due to its light weight[14] Three lug nuts on the wheels instead of the usual four[25] Only one wing mirror[14]

does not open.[24]

No radio or CD player[14] No airbags in base model[14] 623cc engine has only 2 cylinders[14] No air conditioning in base model[14]

[edit]Price
Wikinews has related news:World's cheapest car launched in India, will go on sale in April

Announcing the vehicle as the least expensive production car in the world,[26] Tata aimed for a starting price of one lakh, or 100,000, rupees. This was approximately US$2000 at the time.[27] As of December, 2010, the cheapest Nano costs around US$2900.[7] Rapidly rising material prices (up 13% to 23% over the cars development time[28]) are blamed for these price rises.[8] In late October 2010, Reuters reported that prices will be raised by an average of 9,000 rupees (US$202) from November because of rising material costs,[29] and as of the beginning of 2011 the Nano costs 140,000 rupees (more than US$3,000).[15]
[edit]Model

versions

Tata Nano Std

Tata Nano Europa

At its launch the Nano was available in India in three trim levels:[30]

The Tata Nano Std priced at 142,000 (US$3,166.6) with a choice of three The Tata Nano CX at 171,000 (US$3,813.3) with five color options, air-

exterior colors, single-color seats, and a fold-down rear seat[31]

conditioning, two-tone seats, a parcel shelf, assisted brakes and fold-down rear seat with nap rest[31]

The Tata Nano LX at 195,000 (US$4,348.5) with all of the features of the Cx

plus fabric seats, central locking, front power windows, body-colored bumpers, fog lamps, a trip meter, a cup holder, mobile phone charging capabilities and a rear spoiler[31]

[edit]Technical

specifications

The Nano is a 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) car with a two-cylinder 624 cc rear engine. The car complies with Indian emission standards and can also meet European emission standards as well.[24]
Engine: 2 cylinder petrol with Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 33 horsepower (25 kW) 624 cc (38 cu in)

Value Motronic engine management platform fromBosch

2 valves per cylinder overhead camshaft

Compression ratio: 9.5:1

bore stroke: 73.5 mm (2.9 in) 73.5 mm (2.9 in)

Power: 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) @ 5250 rpm[3]

Torque: 48 Nm (35 ftlbf) @ 3000 +/-500 rpm[3]

Layout and Transmission

Rear wheel drive

4-speed manual transmission

Steering

mechanical rack and pinion w/o servo

Turning radius: 4 metres[3]

Performance

Acceleration: 0-60 km/h (37 mph): 8 seconds[3]

Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)[3]

Fuel efficiency (overall): 23.6 kilometres per litre (4.24 litres per 100 kilometres (66.6 mpg-imp; 55.5 mpg-US))[3]

Body and dimensions

Seat belt: 4[36]

Trunk capacity: 150 L (5.3 cu ft)[37]

Suspension,

Front brake: 180 mm drum[3]

Tires & Brakes Rear brake: 180 mm drum[3]

Front track: 1,325 mm (52.2 in)[3]

Rear track: 1,315 mm (51.8 in)[3]

Ground clearance: 180 mm (7.1 in)[3]

Front suspension: McPherson strut with lower A arm

Rear suspension: Independent coil spring

12-inch wheels[38]

Supplier [39]

Part/system [39]

Texspin

Clutch Bearings

Bosch

Oxygen sensor, Gasoline injection system (diesel will follow), starter, alternator, brake system

Continental AG

Gasoline fuel supply system, fuel level sensor

Caparo

Inner structural panels

HSI AUTO

Static sealing systems (Weather Strips)

Delphi

Instrument cluster

Denso

Windshield wiper system (single motor and arm)

FAG Kugelfischer Rear-wheel bearing

Federal-Mogul

Pistons, Piston rings, Spark plugs, Gaskets, Systems protection

Ficosa

Rear-view mirrors, interior mirrors, manual and CVT shifters, washer system

Freudenberg

Engine sealing

GKN

Driveshafts

INA

Shifting elements

ITW Deltar

Outside and inside door handles

Johnson Controls Seating

Mahle

Camshafts, spin-on oil filters, fuel filters and air cleaners

Saint-Gobain

Glass

TRW

Brake system

Ceekay Daikin/Valeo

Clutch sets

Vibracoustic

Engine mounts

Visteon

Air induction system

ZF Friedrichshafen

Chassis components, including tie rods

AG

Behr

HVAC for the luxury version

Drr

Lean Paint Shop

[edit]Safety

concern

A small number of fire incidents involving the Nano were reported.[7] This led Tata to add safety devices to the vehicle although no recall was initiated, and according to Tata the car is safe.[7] Its safety is relative however, as the Nano has noairbags, passenger-side wing mirror, or crumple zone.
[edit]Pollution

increase

As the Nano was designed for a population currently using eco-friendly bicycles and motorcycles,[7] environmentalists are concerned by the increase in pollution that would follow a mass motorization in developing countries such as India.[14]
[edit]Indian

used car market

The Nano is thought to have affected the used car market in India, as some Indians may opt to buy a Nano rather than a used vehicle. The new-car market is also being affected. Sales of new Maruti 800s, the second-cheapest car in India, dropped by 20% and used models by 30% immediately prior to the Nano's introduction.[20]

Awards

2010 Business Standard Motoring Indian car of the year[48] 2010 Bloomberg UTV-Autocar car of the year[49] 2010 Edison Awards, first place in the transportation category[50] 2010 Good Design Awards, in the category of transportation [51]

The story behind the Tata Nano

t Tata's Engineering Research Center, near the bucolic surroundings of the Tata Motors [ Get Quote ]

factory in Pune, India [ Images ], there are two cars on display. One is a complete prototype of the Nano, the $2,500 compact car Tata unveiled in January, which has all the essentials and safety features of India's higher-priced automobiles along with a sticker price that will forever change the economics of low-cost cars. The other is a neat bisection, with the car's innards clearly visible. "Every day we invite people to come and examine the car and ask: 'How can we make more savings?'" says Tata Motors Chief Executive Ravi Kant. That quest to build the world's cheapest car hasn't ended. The Nano [ Images ] should be available this fall, but the mission began back in 2003, when Ratan Tata [ Images ], chairman of Tata Motors and the $50 billion Tata conglomerate, set a challenge to build a "people's car." Tata gave an engineering team, led by 32-year-old star engineer Girish Wagh, three requirements for the new vehicle: It should be low-cost, adhere to regulatory requirements, and achieve performance targets such as fuel efficiency and acceleration capacity. The design team initially came up with a vehicle which had bars instead of doors and plastic flaps to keep out the monsoon rains. It was closer to a quadricycle than a car, and the first prototype, Wagh admits candidly, "lacked punch." Even a bigger engine, which boosted the power by nearly 20%, was still dismal. "It was an embarrassment," says Wagh. But the failure was also the catalyst for Tata's decision to build a proper car, not an upgraded scooter on four wheels or anything flimsy or cheap-looking. "We didn't want an apology for a car," says Ravi Kant. "We were conscious of the fact that whether it was a $2,500 car or not, it ought not to have looked like a $2,500 car." Becoming a part of history The tale of the creation and design of the Nano is one of innovation and ingenuity, both inside and outside Tata's own organization. First, Ratan Tata called a meeting of his top parts suppliers and, after showing them the early, earnest but flawed prototypes, asked them to help. Companies including Germany's [ Images ] Bosch, which makes the computer that is the heart of car's engine, were skeptical. So were local Indian players. But Tata persisted, pointing out that not only could a company's specific developments for the Nano help to make history but they could also improve their companies' businesses and bottom lines. Soon most of Tata's traditional suppliers were on board.

Rane Group, for instance, makes a rack and pinion steering system. It focused on reducing the weight of the materials used, replacing the steel rod of the steering with a steel tube -- a major cost-reducer. Typically, the product is made of two pieces, but it was redesigned as one to save on machining and assembling costs. According to Harish Lakshman, director of the $317 million company: "The world has seen this sort of integration of two pieces into one, but applied differently -- not for a new car, and not to reduce costs." GKN Driveline India, a subsidiary of global auto parts leader GKN, made the driveshaft -- the component that transfers power from the engine to the wheel. The team spent a year developing 32 experimental variants to create the perfect driveshaft for the Nano. It roped in designers from the company's French and Italian operations and changed the design to make it lighter and easier to manufacture. For the Nano's rear-wheel drive system, GKN designed a smaller diameter of shaft, which made it lighter and saved on material costs. "We thought if we were successful in this, we could dictate terms to the market, and every other car manufacturer would want to work with us," says Rajendra Ojha, chief executive of GKN Driveline India.

Tata Group

Type

Privately held company

Industry

Conglomerate

Founded

1868

Founder(s)

Jamsedji Tata

Headquarters

Bombay House Mumbai, India

Area served

Worldwide

Key people

Ratan Tata
(Chairman)[1]

Products

Steel Automobiles Telecommunications Power IT Services/ITES Hotels Consumer goods Retail Agriculture Financial services Defence Chemicals Hospitality Engineering Beverages Construction Aerospace Pharma

Revenue

US$ 72 billion (2011)[2]

Profit

US$ 1.74 billion (200910)

Total assets

US$ 52.8 billion (200910)

Employees

396,517 (200910)

Subsidiaries

Tata Steel Tata Steel Europe Tata Motors

Tata Consultancy Services Tata Technologies Tata Tea Titan Industries Tata Power Tata Communications Tata Sons Tata Teleservices Taj Hotels Tata Chemicals Tata Global Beverages

Website

tata.com

Tata Group

Tata Nano

DEMAND

The worlds cheapest and most anticipated car has finally gone on sale, a very big deal that could bring safe and affordable transportation to millions of people throughout South Asia. Demand for the Tata Nano is so high the company doesnt expect to meet it when Nanos start rolling off an assembly line in July, so the first 100,000 customers will be selected at random. The Indian automaker plans to sell the car for the rock-bottom price of $2000,

allowing people who could afford little more than a scooter to join the mobile masses in what promises to be an explosive market for automobiles. "We are at the gates offering a new form of transportation to the people of India and, later, I hope, other markets as well, company Chairman Ratan Tata told reporters at the cars launch Monday in Mumbai,according to Reuters. The thought of all those cars adding to the CO2 were pumping into the atmosphere has environmentalists terrified. The Nano promises to redefine what diminutive and cost effective mean. The Lilliputian car is a little over nine feet long, five feet wide and scarcely five feet tall, making it smaller than a Toyota Yaris. It seemly weighs about as much as a case of beer, and its powered by a tiny 623cc engine mounted in the back like an old Volkswagen Beetle. The Nano also is about as well appointed as an old Beetle, offering few options besides air-conditioning. Odd that A/C is a limited option, given how hot and humid it gets during the summer. Curiously, the Nano is not intended to compete with cars, but with scooters. Two-wheelers are seemingly everywhere in India and it isnt uncommon to see entire families riding them. Tata says the Nano will give people a safer, more comfortable alternative. "I hope it will provide safe, affordable four-wheel transportation to families who until now have not been able to own a car," Tata said at the cars launch. That doesnt sit well with environmentalists who dont think the Nano is a good idea. The last thing we need, they say, is more cars. Itd be easy to dismiss such concerns if they came from Western do-gooders, but many inside India question the wisdom of expanding the countrys automotive fleet. "My first reaction when someone says they need to buy a car is to say dont buy it," said Soumya Brata Rahut, a spokesman for Greenpeace India. Thats true, from a green perspective, getting X-million people off scooters and into cheap, efficient and readily accessible public transportation would be better than putting them behind the wheel. But there are two things to consider. First, cheap, efficient and readily accessible public transportation isnt widely availably. And second, if the Nano gets half of the bajillion people who are currently riding around on two-stroke scooters into something less polluting, isnt that a net gain for the environment? As for the Nano itself, the early reports indicate its solid, if basic, transportation. Bijoy Kumar Y of the Business Standard recently drove one and said its better than youd think.

"First things first, the Nano does not look or feel like a very cheap car," he wrote. "It is a very thoughtfully designed piece of kit with an agreeable level of fit and finish. Nor would you expect the kind of space it has in its interior." Prospective buyers can sign up at one of 30,000 locations between April 9 and 22, and the first 100,000 cars will be offered at random. Those lucky enough to get one will have to make a deposit pretty close to the cars selling price of 100,000 rupees for a plain-Jane model or almost twice that for a fully loaded one. "We have had a stupendous response so far, breaking all class and other barriers," managing director Ravi Kant said, according to Reuters. So think of the Nano as a Beetle, or possibly even a Yugo, for the 21st century: basic, no frills transportation that will get you there. At the moment, the Nano will be offered only overseas, but the company insists a version could be headed to North America in three years.