The Non-iPod Nano

When most people here the term nano these days they are likely to think of iPod's miniature player that is about the size and shape of a pack of chewing gum. However, the Nano that is soon to take shape in the collective of car afficianados is a little larger though not by a whole lot. Indian manufacturer Tata launched their latest car, the Tata Nano over a year ago in Delhi. The car is billed as the affordable car for the every-man and it is priced (the base model at least) at around $2000 which makes it quite affordable and likely to create waves in the Indian marketplace and potentially worldwide as well.

Despite delays in manufacture caused by the fact that Tata had to move their manufacturing plant for the Nano from one state to another (due to internal squabbles) the company is finally set to start rolling the new wunderkind cars off of the assembly line and into the eager awaiting hands of the Indian consumer. Now in this day and age of small and fuel-efficient things, there is a certain appeal to the Nano that rings quite loudly over here in the United States as well and although the market would likely welcome something like the Nano, it will probably be some time before the car makes its debut over here in the United States.

On the surface the car provides a lot of what Mr. Tata himself saw when he proposed the idea of the car which is an affordable conveyance which will be readily afforadble and will reduce the number of families sitting precariously on scooters and motorcycles. At present in India, two-wheeled conveyances are among the most affordable (and practical in city driving) vehicles that the average consumer can buy. For those of us over here who complain about traffic on the roads and highways over here, we have nothing on the drivers of India and what they have to contend with. Mr. Tata's idea that this car be affordable in order to make the roads safer for young families is a great idea in concept but the effects it could have on the roads are yet to be seen.

Now many outside of India are curious as to how the car can be so cheap and if one looks at the illustration of the car shown above, you get an idea of how the car can afford to be so cheap. What are considered niceties and necessities in other parts of the world (cough cough... America) are considered 'optional extras' which will raise the price of the car; but again... not by much. Items such as airbags, power windows, power steering and even air conditioning are left off in order to keep the cost of the car down. On the surface it makes sense. Why have such things if they aren't necessary? If you've sat in any of the older taxis in India you'd know that they have been without power steering from the time they first hit the roads and they still seem to be driving fine so drivers are used to no longer having such mechanical advantages.

Manually cranking windows? What's the big deal in that. Are we so lazy now that we can't spin our hands in a circle anymore? Perhaps some of the more decadent and delicate among us aren't so inclined but for the majority it's not an inconvenience so why shell out if you don't need it. Now while these concerns aren't a big deal to the average target consumer in India, outside the country is where these things would be a bigger concern. Now perhaps it's true that Americans are used to having power everything in their cars and trucks but still, it's the other parts of the car that make it a little doubtful that we will be seeing the Nano in its present form on the streets of the United States.

The fact that the car has a maximum speed of approximately 60 miles per hour is chief among my concerns. Now before you think that I'm a certified speed demon who expects and demands that my cars have a maximum indicated speed of 200 MPH, just think about the last time you drove 60 MPH on the highway or roads around your area. Not many times is it? In India where the nomadic culture exists but not in the same form as in the United States is part of the reason why its not a big deal. What I mean by nomadic culture is that we Americans enjoy occasional sojourns or road trips to see new places and explore new things and we often do it from the comfort of our cars and thanks to the extensive highway system that spans our nation. India has that too but it also has affordable mass transportation systems which promote exploration but in the comfort of someone else's transport. With such niceties it becomes unnecessary to have a car that can travel over 60 MPH on a highway.

I think the Nano has a market over here. After all, the SmartFor2 is doing well over here and I think the Nano is a potential competitor on that market. That and given the fact that more and more urbanites are falling for cars that are small and compact for around the city driving, I can certainly see the Nano doing well. It's the perfect sized car to zip from uptown to mid-town to downtown in no time flat. Perhaps it's not quite ready for the American market yet but I have no doubt that its day will come and that too right quick.