The Tata Nano, marketed by its makers as the world’s cheapest car, will enter the American market in 2011. It launches in its home market India in July and the first 100 000 customers will be chosen via a lottery system. Such is the anticipated demand. That might sound like a lot if you don’t live in China but for a country like India with about 1.15 billion people 100 000 is but one leaf in a forest.
Powered by a very small two-cylinder engine sized 624cc (this is less than 1.0-litre) the Nano makes a laughable 24kW. I’m not quite sure how it would manage to carry people AND ferry them around a place like Gauteng where it would effectively produce roughly 19kW. Nevertheless cheap would be the word to describe it. For people feeling a bit richer extras such as climate control and fog lights will come at an extra cost.
The minimum price in the US will be something like US$2 300 per Nano. That equates to around R18 800 today or about €1 656. I think Africa, including South Africa, will be getting the Nano only either in late 2010 or mid 2011.
