Addressing the press at the launch function, the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Mr. Ratan N. Tata, said: “The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional barriers. From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the concept, development and productionisation of the car has overcome several challenges. It is to the credit of the team at Tata Motors that a car once thought impossible by the world is now a reality. I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car. We are delighted in presenting the Tata Nano to India and the world.”
The Tata Nano is currently being manufactured at the company’s Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand in limited numbers. The new dedicated plant, at Sanand in Gujarat, will be ready in 2010 with an annualised capacity of 3,50,000 cars.
The vehicle offers an incredibly spacious passenger compartment which can comfortably seat four adults. With a length of just 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, it has the smallest exterior footprint for a car in India but is 21 per cent more spacious than the smallest car available today. A high seating position makes ingress and egress easy. Its small size, coupled with a turning radius of just 4 metres, makes it extremely manoeuvrable in the smallest of parking slots.
The three trim levels and their key features available at launch are:
Tata Nano Standard (BS-II and BS-III): The standard version, in three colour options, single-tone seats, and fold-down rear seat;
Tata Nano CX (BS-II and BS-III): In five colour options, with heating and air-conditioning (HVAC), two-tone seats, parcel shelf, booster-assisted brakes, fold-down rear seat with nap rest;
Tata Nano LX (BS-III): With the features of CX plus complete fabric seats, central locking, front power windows, body coloured exteriors in three premium colours, fog lamps, electronic trip meter, cup holder in front console, mobile charger point, and rear spoiler. Many of these features are not available in current entry-level small cars in the country.
Performance & Specifications
The 2-cylinder engine, delivering 35 PS @ 5250 rpm and a torque of 48 Nm @ 3000 rpm, enables the Nano to have a top speed of 105 kmph and negotiate inclines with a gradeability of 30%. Fuel efficiency of 23.6 km/litre, certified by ARAI under mandated test conditions, is the highest for any petrol car in India. The high fuel efficiency, coupled with a low kerb weight of 600 kg, ensures that the car at 101 gm / km has the lowest CO2 emission amongst cars in India. It is BS-III compliant and is BS-IV ready. It is also available in BS-II norms.
Safety
The Tata Nano safety performance exceeds the current regulatory requirements. It passes the roll-over test and offset impact, which are not regulated in India. It has an all-sheet metal body, reinforced passenger compartment, crumple zones and intrusion-resistant doors, besides mandatory seat belts, and complies fully with the existing Indian safety standards. Tubeless tyres, among which the rear ones are wider, enhance safety. The warranty is for 18 months or 24,000 km, whichever is earlier.
Booking
In view of the expected significant demand and limited production capacity initially until the Sanand plant is fully ramped up to capacity, the Tata Nano will be available through a booking mode. An exclusive agreement has been entered into with the State Bank of India to manage the booking process.
Sale of application forms and acceptance of booking will start from April 9 and close on April 25. Forms sold at a price of Rs. 300, with a range of offers from select associate Tata Group companies, will be available at over the 30,000 locations in about 1,000 cities through Tata Motors passenger car dealerships, the State Bank of India (SBI) and its branches, its subsidiaries and associates, other preferred financiers, and outlets of Westside, Croma, World of Titan and Tata Indicom exclusive stores.
After collecting the forms, customers have two options. They can either pay the entire booking amount themselves or seek financing of the amount. For those who seek financing, Tata Motors has entered into agreements with 15 preferred banks/NBFCs for the Tata Nano booking loan product. The booking product offered by these banks will enable a Tata Nano to be booked by paying an amount starting Rs. 2,999 only. Their chosen financier will directly submit their application forms to SBI on their behalf.
Those who choose to themselves pay their entire booking amount can submit their application forms to SBI through the 1,350 notified branches in 850 cites and also at Tata Motors passenger car dealerships, Westside and Croma outlets. Option to submit bookings online is available at www.tatanano.com.
Within 60 days of the closure of bookings, Tata Motors will process and announce allotment of one lakh cars in the first phase of deliveries, through a computerised random selection procedure. These allotments will be price protected for the launch prices till delivery of the cars, but the booking amounts will not bear any interest for the customers. Deliveries will commence from July next.
Applicants have the option to retain their booking deposit even if they do not get allotment in the first phase. Those who choose this option will be eligible for interest on their deposit, effective from the date of announcement of allotment of the second phase, at a rate of 8.5 per cent for retention period between one year to two years and 8.75 per cent for a retention period of more than two years. Allotment of retainees will be simultaneously communicated along with the allotment of the first one lakh cars.
Tata Motors has entered into agreements with 15 preferred banks/NBFCs for the Tata Nano booking loan product. They are the State Bank of India, Tata Motor Finance, State Bank of Patiala, ICICI Bank, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Indore, Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank, Federal Bank, Corporation Bank, Indian Bank and the Central Bank of India.
The Tata Nano comes with an attractive range of accessories and merchandise. The range of merchandise includes a Nano phone, Nano watch, T-Shirts, etc., and will be made available online at www.tatanano.com as well at all Tata Motors passenger car dealerships and outlets. Accessories include alloy wheels, body kits, etc., to customise the Tata Nano to individual tastes.
