Skip to main content

India's Dirt-Cheap Nano Aimed at U.S.

2061300552 1425510421999 jpeg automatic-content-migration

Tata, the Indian automaker that owns Land Rover and Jaguar, may bring its super affordable Nano microcar to the U.S. At least that’s what the company’s CEO Ratan Tata said in a recent interview.

The Nano would go through intensive modifications before being marketed in both the U.S. and Europe, Tata said. It would have to: The current Nano not only has a two-cylinder engine producing just 37 horsepower, but it also wouldn’t come close to meeting the rigorous safety regulations in either market.

In 2009, the Nano went on sale for around $3,000 in India, but stories of the car bursting into flames soon made the internet rounds.

This also isn’t the first time we’ve heard Tata claim the Nano would go on sale in the U.S. A company spokesman told U.S. journalists that the Nano would hit U.S. shores by 2011 shortly after it debuted in 2009.

1771598480 1425510422003 jpeg

Tata says this next attempt will see the car getting a more powerful engine and more features that U.S. customers demand, but it will be priced under $10,000.

Currently, the 2012 Nissan Versa is the most affordable new car on the market; it starts at $11,770 including $780 in destination. That car is one of the few that still comes standard without power windows or power locks and no air conditioning.

Tata is also devoid of any dealer network in the U.S. Even if there was a demand for the car being able to meet it would be a serious issue to tackle. Chrysler’s Fiat brand has been able to launch its one affordable 500 model through a small network of dealerships.

Related
Tata will redo Nano for the U.S. (Automotive News)
Tata Nano Bursts Into Flames
More Safety News

David Thomas
Former managing editor David Thomas has a thing for wagons and owns a 2010 Subaru Outback and a 2005 Volkswagen Passat wagon.
Email David Thomas

Featured stories

202502 what are cheapest evs profile scaled jpg
toyota 4runner trd offroad 2025 42 exterior offroad front angle jpg
kia ev9 land 2024 07 exterior front winter scaled jpg