My little Tata Nano around the world, a car that wants to change the world's mobility
Several decades ago, a man in America revolutionized industrial production leading to the production of affordable cars. He was Henry Ford. He was neither a scientist nor an engineer, a school dropout guy who wished to change the mobility. It was the time when it took 13 hours to produce one car which made them so expensive. Henry Ford studied industrial trends of that time and applied them in his Model-T car production. A 45-step process in not more than 90 minutes to roll out a brand new car. It was the beginning of affordable cars for the entire world, not just America. The transformation from 13 hours to 90 minutes is all fascinating.
Mr. Henry Ford with his Model T
(Image source: https://media.ford.com/)
There is another fascinating story that happened in India in 2008 which may seem like taking the roots of Henry Ford’s idea of technology into the 21st century. It's the Nano made by Tata Motors of India. Perceived as people's car and the world's most affordable production car launched in 2008 at the Delhi Auto expo by its chairman, Mr. Ratan.N.Tata. The entire world’s media was at Tata Motors stall to witness the car that many thought its IMPOSSIBLE for a price of one lac INR (1700 EUR/2300 USD)
(Image source: wired.com)
When an Indian journalist interviewed Mr. Tata in 2004 and asked about the price of his car, He said it would cost around 1 lac INR. The reporter created a hype that Tata wants to make a car at 1 lac INR!!! Despite rejecting the statement, Mr. Tata took that as a challenge. With a strong team of 500 engineers struggling for years at Tata Motors research centers in India, Europe, and the UK, Tata motors launched Nano with zero percent margin at a dealer price of 1 Lac INR (V.A.T and transport extra) even though the price of steel, producer goods, labor, and everything were skyrocketed.
(Image source: AUTOCAR INDIA)
Both Mr. Henry Ford and Mr. Ratan Tata had the same dream.
Both Mr. Henry Ford and Mr. Ratan Tata had the same dream.
To make cars affordable
The Nano has a funky tall boy design, it has 4 wheels, 4 doors, can accommodate 5 people with surprisingly huge leg room and headroom, best air conditioning unit that chills the cabin in seconds, 625 CC petrol (gasoline) engine that delivers 33 HP enough to feel thrilled for a microcar to ride in the city. Those who drive a nano without comparing it with cars costing more than 2-3 times of nano can feel it -It's fun to ride RWD cute car. During the launch, the hype around the car was so huge, that rating agencies predicted that the car could expand the Indian car market by 65%, and rivals worried, “we definitely see it as impacting our sales” a Hyundai motors official said. It also affected the used car market by a 25-30% of decline before the launch of nano. The state-of-the-art nano plant had an output of 2,50,000 units a year.
Despite gaining such popularity, agencies predicted, nano did not succeed as everyone expected. It faced many hurdles starting with plant issues in West Bengal. Tata Motors relocated its newly built plant to another location in Gujarat, 2000 km away from the old plant. This may be termed as the world's biggest-ever relocation in the history of automobiles. The plant in West Bengal was all set to start production. The situation heated up with political involvement as they built the factory on farming land. The management decided to shift the plant to a new location which cost them an additional 700 Crores (Source: current news.in). This issue increased the waiting list of nano and a few of the cars that delivered caught fire which impacted so much on new buyers. People worried much about those two nano cars out of thousands of cars produced and are running flawlessly even today. Nano is marketed as a cheap car rather than an affordable car. No one wants to show a cheap tag.
BASF is the world's largest chemical company headquartered in Germany supply paint to Tata Nano and also to other Tata vehicles
BOSCH (Worlds largest supplier of auto components measured by 2011 revenues) plant in Bavaria produces quality parts for PORSCHE to VOLKSWAGEN and TATA NANO
MAHLE is ONE of the largest automotive suppliers in the world
BEHR also produces parts for AUDI, MERCEDES, and many other luxury brands
Watch the videos of how the Nano parts are being developed by German companies,
click HERE for Bosch, click HERE for Continental Automotive Systems India plant in Pune, click HERE to view the article of BASF chemicals, the world's largest chemical producers part in Tata Nano's project and click HERE to view the special article on Tata Nano by German mission in India, Federal Foreign Office
Even involving such a high degree of innovations in technology around the world, those few issues had shaken the nano’s reputation. Tata Motors continuously upgrades nano with better technologies and features to remove the cheap tag and make it a smart city car. Nano was awarded the “Most trusted four-wheeler brand in India for 2013 by Brand trust report, India. The latest nano features Automated Manual Transmission from Magnetti Marelli of Italy, safety features like anti-roll bars and crumple zones with reinforced bonnet were included. The radiator has shifted to the front for better thermal management, creep functionality, lavishly decorated interiors and a bunch of cool features that appeal nano a premium city car.
The latest generation nano featured Automated Manual Transmission, power steering, and an openable boot lid
Nano attracting automotive fans across the globe
Tata Nano at the Cartist's auto festival in Jaipur, India
(Image source: Cartist facebook page)
Tata Nanos was featured at India's biggest Auto art festival organized by Cartist India. Jay Leno loves Nano, and Jeremy Clarkson hails it as a revolution. New York best sellers wrote a book on the Nano. A woman from the United Kingdom went to India to drive Nano about 10,000 km, wrote her first book and her story appeared in The Wall Street Journal newspaper.
Cartist, a startup in India aiming to promote Indian culture and auto art in its home country featured Tata Nano cars with stunning artworks by great artists around the country. I've contacted Mr. Himanshu Jangid, founder of Cartist through Twitter and asked why he emphasized Tata Nano cars instead of having many classic cars in his garage like Jaguar cars, especially the E-type (One of the world's best classic cars all time) Rolls Royce, Mercedes and there are even many others available on the used market at super cheap price. " The reason we chose Tata Nano was it's a dream project for Mr. Ratan Tata to create a car for a common man. In the same way, it's a dream for us to create automobile art for the masses. As it works as a moving art concept for us" -Said Mr. Himanshu
Jay Leno, an American actor/writer/producer and Auto enthusiast known for his show “Jay Leno’s Garage” praised nano and commented, “ Indian engineers are working hard on the new generation cars and able to present such cars to the world.” He owns one nano in the U.S (imported 2012 version nano)
Cartists with Tata Nano. Visit cartist.in for their great artworks. Click HERE to view Cartist's facebook fanpage
"Remember these people, they build Jaguar, they build Land Rover and they build this car. If I were a young Indian man starting a family, this would probably be my first automobile. And it would be something I would be proud of because it's made in India by Indians. That's impressive." Leno said passionately
Jeremy Clarkson, a British motor journalist famous for BBC’s TopGear show hailed nano as a “REVOLUTION, a genuine step forward.” He reacted to nano’s issues very seriously.
“I cannot understand why eco-ists and doomsayers are so ready to criticize this little car because what it does is level the playing field between the developed countries and those that are not so developed. I hate the idea that we, in the West, can say, ‘Well, we’ve had cars for a hundred years now and we’ve decided they’re a bad thing, so you, Mr. Patel, you must stick with your ox.’ It’s barbarism.”
-Clarkson.
-Clarkson.
“Tata Motors has set new global standards for low-cost vehicles.”
-Mr. Robert D Hamats, a U.S Government official.
-Mr. Robert D Hamats, a U.S Government official.
THINK BIG, ACT BOLD, AND IMPROVE THE WORLD
NANOVATION, A fantastic story written by the International bestsellers, Kevin and Jackie Freiberg for those who wish to change the world.
"Vibrant and energetic, the passion of the authors reflects that of the innovators it chronicles. A practical guide for creating a radical culture of innovation."
-N.R. Narayana Murthy, founder, and chairman, Infosys Ltd.
"The Freiberg's deep dive into a company that transformed an entire industry is loaded with hands-on advice and a warning not to downsize your dreams!"
-Gary Kelly, chairman and CEO, Southwest Airlines.
THE NANOLOGUES, a book written by Vanessa Able describing her journey through India in her Tata nano. Her story was published in The wall street journal, an international English newspaper based in New York City.
Tata MegaPixel concept. View more on http://www.tatamegapixel.com
When Henry Ford tried to bring the change in mobility from horse carriage to motor cars and trying make them affordable, people said: “Nah, what's wrong with a horse?” That was a huge bet, he had. He tried and failed many times and after going bankrupt five times, he succeeded and it worked! Even Henry Ford’s Model T had a few flaws like riding model-T at top speeds was not comfortable, and incessant rattling sounds from cars didn't turn up one's nose. Americans loved the car by valuing its advantages rather than a few drawbacks. I wish people who blame nano should experience the nano first and it's up to them. What more they can expect at that price?
There are a few nano cars that caught fire and it's the problem with the rear engine cars. Even the sports cars having engines at the rear are prone to catch fire. It depends on the driving style, aftermarket accessories that increase the load on the battery, poor installing of wires can lead to short circuit and can cause a fire, that may be a nano or any other car costing ten times more than that. There are no reports that the later versions of nano catching fire. The tailpipe (exhaust) is at the center doesn’t mean it's an auto-rickshaw, it's RWD, and even Mc Lauren cars will have a similar tailpipe position.
The thermal management system (radiation/ventilation) for the Nano was supplied by Behr ( MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KG) headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. They also provide for Jaguar Land Rovers, VW group, Mercedes..
There are a few nano cars that caught fire and it's the problem with the rear engine cars. Even the sports cars having engines at the rear are prone to catch fire. It depends on the driving style, aftermarket accessories that increase the load on the battery, poor installing of wires can lead to short circuit and can cause a fire, that may be a nano or any other car costing ten times more than that. There are no reports that the later versions of nano catching fire. The tailpipe (exhaust) is at the center doesn’t mean it's an auto-rickshaw, it's RWD, and even Mc Lauren cars will have a similar tailpipe position.
In my view, nano is not a failure, it's an engineering miracle. One can’t verdict a car just by commercial success. It involves many things. Success also depends on the economic situation of one’s country. We must appreciate the proudly made in India product that showed the world the capabilities of Indian engineering. I am an auto enthusiast ever since my childhood, born in India and currently doing my masters in Germany. I feel so proud when my professors praise Mr. Ratan.N.Tata, Tata Motors, Nano, and Jaguar Land Rover. Nano got the technology from Germany, Italy, and Uk along with India. It's a pride for the whole world, not just India because it can teach the world how to make innovations for a better world.
Mr. Ratan Tata took Tata Group from $6 Billion to more than $100 billion worth and acquired Britain's prestigious car brands, Jaguar Land Rover, South Korea's Daewoo Commercial vehicles, and a bunch of other acquisitions in other fields. Tata Nano is Mr. Tata's dream project and it's sad to see the poor commercial performance of this small wonder. I have sent a letter to Mr. Tata appreciating the team for such innovations and made a few suggestions for the Nano. He is so generous, responded after 2 months, and thanked me for the suggestions I have made.
Today, India is celebrating her 68th republic day and two years back, on this day, I have started this blog with a view to spread my passion for automobiles and share the knowledge I have. On this occasion, I am posting a few photographs of my 1/43 scale Tata Nano (Official merchandise) which I am taking wherever I go to show my support for such innovations that can change the world.
Today, India is celebrating her 68th republic day and two years back, on this day, I have started this blog with a view to spread my passion for automobiles and share the knowledge I have. On this occasion, I am posting a few photographs of my 1/43 scale Tata Nano (Official merchandise) which I am taking wherever I go to show my support for such innovations that can change the world.
Featured on Autocar India Magazine
My 1/43 scaled Tata nano models at Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany
(Source: Autocar India magazine, May 2017 Issue)
(Source: Autocar India magazine, May 2017 Issue)
My little Tata Nano around the world
And here I am with my little nano. Thank you so much for viewing my blog.
Comments are appreciated.
Comments are appreciated.
Click here to view more pics on Instagram
Be the change you wish to see in the world
-Mahatma Gandhi
Comments
Happy to know about world's affordable car, thanks for your valuable information. Can't stop loving this cute car.
Im happy that you loved the article :)
And the pictures itself show how much you respect your Nano, carry every place you travel in this world!!
Happy to read.
Keep going.. Keep writing :)
Hope you liked it.
Its ride was soo thrilling,but I'm missing it as I had sold it to a passionate customer, I was sure my first car will be nano.
to understand this topic. You understand so much its almost hard to argue with you
(not that I personally would want to?HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic that has been written about for years.
Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!
while I was researching on Bing for something else, Anyways I am here now and
would just like to say thank you for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don't have time to go through it all at the minute but I have
saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back
to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the excellent
work.
things, therefore I am going to tell her.