Saturday, 19 December 2009
Competitors of Tata Nano Car
Rival car makers including Bajaj Auto, Fiat, General Motors, Ford Motor, Hyundai and Toyota Motor have all expressed interest in building a small car that is affordable to more middle-class consumers in emerging markets. The bulk of demand there is for small cars because people are much more sensitive to fuel prices.
Honda and Toyota are leading the way on so called cleaner gasoline-electric hybrids, and some environmentalists argue getting prices down on these technologies is where efforts should be concentrated. Inexpensive and eco-friendly electric-cars like Tara Tiny, Oreva Super (both reportedly even cheaper than Tata Nano) and REVA pose even more significant danger to Nano. There are also rumors of Maruti Suzuki introducing a lower priced version of Alto to counter Tata Nano.
Singur factory pullout of Tata Nano Car
After much speculation, Tata Motors announced on May 19, 2006 that it will be manufacturing Tata Nano from Singur, West Bengal. However, within a week protests were started by a few farmers in the area against the acquisition of their lands by Tata. The cause was taken up by Mamata Banerjee, the leader of Trinamool Congress. The situation escalated with Tatas threatening to pull out, and disruption of compensation for farmers who had volunteered to sell their land by anti-acquisition activists. This was followed by a state-wide bandh by Trinamool Congress in October. The government banned political parties from holding meetings or processions at Singur and installed a huge police force there. There was widespread violence in the clashes between the police and the farmers on December 2, 2006.
On December 4, 2006 Mamata Banerjee entered into a hunger strike. A 48-hour strike was later called by her to protest the death of Tapasi, a Save Farmland Committee campaigner, whose burnt body was found at the Nano plant site in Singur. Two CPMactivists were later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. On the 24th day of her strike, Banerjee was given oxygen support and finally called off her fast after appeals from the then President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
As the protests over the land continued in 2007, Ratan Tata accused that the competitors had a role in the controversy. The acquisition of land was initially criticised in February 2007, but later approved by the Calcutta High Court in 2008. As political unrest and rains hampered the construction, Tata Motors delayed the launch of Nano to September 2008.
Violence continued throughout 2008 and on September 2, 2008, Tata Motors announced that they have suspended work at Singur. On October 2, 2008 Tata Motors announced that they are pulling out of Singur. On October 7, 2008, it was announced that the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi had signed an MoU with Tata Motors for allocating land for Nano factory in Sanand in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat.
Variants of Tata Nano Car
Besides the regular and conventional petrol-variant, the following variants are also expected:
Diesel
A website has reported that the Tata Nano might be made available with a 690cc diesel engine by September 2010. Tata motors have not confirmed this yet have hinted that a diesel version will be introduced in the future. "As of now the Diesel variant is not offered. It will be offered only in Petrol now"
Compressed-air engine
Tata Motors is working with a French firm on using compressed air as an energy source. The company has tied up with Moteur Development International (MDI) for this purpose.
Electric drivetrain or electric-version
Tata is also believed to be making an electric version of the Nano, called the E-Nano (reportedly with attached or sideby solar panelsas well) which might well turn out to be the "world's cheapest electric car" which is more eco-friendly and has many enthusiasts and media for its support. It's supposed to be as cheap as the conventional gasoline version. Tata is making the Nano compliant with export market regulations and plans to export such a car worldwide, particularly to the UK and the rest of continental Europe, the US, and Australia.
The Economic Times reported that the "electric Nano" "would still make good sense for economic, clean and green personal mobility in countries around the world." According to the Hamburg-based newspaper, Auto Bild, the E-Nano would be built in cooperation with the Norwegian electric car specialist, Miljøbil Grenland AS.
Hybrid
Leftlanenews reported that "a hybrid version [of Tata Nano] is also likely, although it is not yet known whether the electric motor will be paired with a gasoline or diesel version."
Nano Europa
Tata Motors unveiled a version of the Nano mini-car called the Nano Europa at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The car will be coming to mainland Europe and the UK and will have a number of improvements over the standard Nano. The Nano Europa has an increased wheelbase, a new 3-cylinder engine and improved interiors and exteriors. The Nano Europa will be more expensive, heavier, and less fuel economical than the standard Nano with prices said to be around the US$ 6000 mark.
Rear mounted engine of Tata Nano Car
| Engine: | 2 cylinder petrol with Bosch multi-point fuel injection(single injector) all aluminium 33 horsepower (25 kW) 624 cc (38 cu in) |
| Value Motronic engine management platform fromBosch | |
| 2 valves per cylinder overhead camshaft | |
| Compression ratio: 9.5:1 | |
| bore × stroke: 73.5 mm (2.9 in) × 73.5 mm (2.9 in) | |
| Power: 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) @ 5250 rpm | |
| Torque: 48 N·m (35 ft·lbf) @ 3000 +/-500 rpm | |
| Layout and Transmission | Rear wheel drive |
| 4-speed manual transmission | |
| Steering | mechanical rack and pinion w/o servo |
| Turning radius: 4 metres | |
| Performance | Acceleration: 0-60 km/h (37 mph): 8 seconds |
| Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph) | |
| Fuel efficiency (overall): 23.6 kilometres per litre (4.24 litres per 100 kilometres (66.6 mpg-imp; 55.5 mpg-US)) | |
| Body and dimensions | Seat belt: 4 |
| Trunk capacity: 150 L (5.3 cu ft) | |
| Suspension, Tires & Brakes | Front brake: 180 mm drum |
| Rear brake: 180 mm drum | |
| Front track: 1,325 mm (52.2 in) | |
| Rear track: 1,315 mm (51.8 in) | |
| Ground clearance: 180 mm (7.1 in) | |
| Front suspension: McPherson strut with lower A arm | |
| Rear suspension: Independent coil spring | |
| 12-inch wheels |
| Supplier | Part/system |
|---|---|
| Texspin | Clutch Bearings |
| Bosch | Gasoline injection system (diesel will follow), starter, alternator, brake system |
| Continental AG | Gasoline fuel supply system, fuel level sensor |
| Caparo | Inner structural panels |
| HSI AUTO | Static sealing systems (Weather Strips) |
| Delphi | Instrument cluster |
| Denso | Windshield wiper system (single motor and arm) |
| FAG Kugelfischer | Rear-wheel bearing |
| Ficosa | Rear-view mirrors, interior mirrors, manual and CVT shifters, washer system |
| Freudenberg | Engine sealing |
| GKN | Driveshafts |
| INA | Shifting elements |
| ITW Deltar | Outside and inside door handles |
| Johnson Controls | Seating |
| Mahle | Camshafts, spin-on oil filters, fuel filters and air cleaners |
| Saint-Gobain | Glazing |
| TRW | Brake system |
| Ceekay Daikin/Valeo | Clutch sets |
| Vibracoustic | Engine mounts |
| Visteon | Air induction system |
| ZF Friedrichshafen AG | Chassis components, including tie rods |
| Behr | HVAC for the luxury version |
| Dürr | Lean Paint Shop |
Technical specifications of Tata Nano Car
According to Tata Motors, the Nano is a 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) car with a 624 ccrear engine and rear wheel drive, and has a fuel economy of 4.55 L/100 km(22 km/L, 51.7 mpg (US), 62 mpg (UK)) under city road conditions, and 3.85 L/100 km on highways (26 km/L, 61.1 mpg (US), 73.3 mpg (UK)). It is the first time a two-cylinder non-opposed petrol engine will be used in a car with a single balance shaft. Tata Motors has reportedly filed 34 patents related to the innovations in the design of Nano, with the powertrain accounting for over half of them. The project head, Girish Wagh has been credited with being one of the brains behind Nano's design.
Much has been made of Tata's patents pending for the Nano. Yet during a news conference at the New Delhi Auto Expo, Ratan Tata pointed out none of these is revolutionary or represents earth-shaking technology. He said most relate to rather mundane items such as the two-cylinder engine’s balance shaft, and how the gears were cut in the transmission.
Though the car has been appreciated by many sources, including Reuters due to "the way it has tweaked existing technologies to target an as-yet untapped segment of the market", yet it has been stated by the same sources that Nano is not quite "revolutionary in its technology", just low in price. Moreover, technologies which are expected of the new and yet-to-be-released car include a revolutionary compressed-air fuel system and an eco-friendly electric-version, technologies on which Tata is reportedly already working, though no official incorporation-date for these technologies in the new car has been released.
According to Tata, the Nano complies with Bharat Stage-III (similar to Euro-III) and can also meet Euro-IV emission standards. Ratan Tata also said, 'The car has passed the full-frontal crash and the side impact crash'. Tata Nano passed the required 'homologation’ tests with Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).This means that the car has met all the specified criteria for roadworthiness laid out by the government including emissions or noise & vibration and can now ply on Indian roads. Tata Nano managed to score 23.6 km per litre during its ‘homologation’ tests with ARAI. This makes Tata Nano the most fuel efficient car in India. Nano will be the first car in India to display the actual fuel mileage figures it recorded at ARAI’s tests on its windshield. According to ARAI in the tests the Nano conformed to Euro IV emission standards which will come into effect in India in 2010, yet it was only homologated to the Euro III level.
Model versions of Tata Nano Car
At its launch the Nano was available in three trim levels:
- the basic Tata Nano Std priced at 123,000 Rupees has no extras;
- the deluxe Tata Nano CX at 151,000 Rupees has air conditioning;
- the luxury Tata Nano LX at 172,000 Rupees has air conditioning, power windows, fabric seats and central locking
- the Nano Europa, European version of the Tata Nano has all of the above plus a larger body, bigger 3-cylinder engine, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and meets European crash standards and emission norms.
The base model will have fixed seats, except for the driver's, which will be adjustable, while the deluxe and luxury models will get air conditioning and body coloured bumpers.
Price of Tata Nano Car
Tata initially targeted the vehicle as "the least expensive production car in the world" — aiming for a starting price of 100,000 rupees or approximately US$2000 (using exchange rate as of 22 March 2009) 6 years ago, despite rapidly rising material prices at the time.
As of August 2008, material costs had risen from 13% to 23% over the car’s development, and Tata faced the choice of:
- introducing the car with an artificially low price through government subsidies and tax-breaks
- forgoing profit on the car
- using vertical-integration to artificially boost profits on cars at the expense of their materials industries
- partially using inexpensive polymers or biodegradable plastics instead of a full metal-body
- raising the price of the car
Cost Cutting Features of Tata Nano Car
- The Nano's car boot does not open. Instead, the rear seats can be folded down to access the boot.
- It has a single windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair.
- It has no power steering.
- The base model has only three lug nuts on the wheels instead of the usual four.
- The base model has only one side view mirror.
Design of Tata Nano Car
Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Tata Motors, began development of the world's cheapest production car in 2003, inspired by the number of Indian families with two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled vehicles. The Nano's development has been tempered by the company's success in producing the low cost 4 wheeled Ace truck in May 2005.
Contrary to speculation that the car might be a simple four-wheeled auto rickshaw,The Times of India reported the vehicle is "a properly designed and built car". The Chairman is reported to have said, "It is not a car with plastic curtains or no roof — it's a real car."
To achieve its design goals, Tata refined the manufacturing process, emphasized innovation and sought new design approaches from suppliers. The car was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering — with Ratan Tata requesting certain changes, such as the elimination of one of two windscreen wipers. Many components of the Nano are made in Germany by Bosch, such asFuel Injection, brake system, Value Motronic ECU, ABS and other technologies.
The Nano has 21% more interior space (albeit mostly as headroom, due to its tall stance) and an 8% smaller exterior compared to its closest rival, the Maruti 800. Tata offered the car in three versions: the basic Tata Nano Std; the CX; and the LX. The CX and LX versions each have air conditioning, power windows, and central locking. Tata has set its initial production target at 250,000 units per year.
History of Tata Nano Car
The introduction of the Nano received media attention due to its targeted low price. The Financial Times reported: "If ever there were a symbol of India’s ambitions to become a modern nation, it would surely be the Nano, the tiny car with the even tinier price-tag. A triumph of homegrown engineering, the $2,200 (€1,490, £1,186) Nano encapsulates the dream of millions of Indians groping for a shot at urban prosperity." The car is expected to boost the Indian economy, create entrepreneurial-opportunities across India, as well as expand the Indian car market by 65%. The car was envisioned by Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, who has described it as an eco-friendly "people's car". Nano has been greatly appreciated by many sources and the media for its low-cost and eco-friendly initiatives which include using compressed-air as fuel and an electric-version (E-Nano). Tata Group is expected to mass-manufacture the Nano, particularly the electric-version, and, besides selling them in India, to also export them worldwide.
Critics of the car have questioned its safety in India (where reportedly 90,000 people are killed in road-accidents every year), and have also criticised the pollution that it would cause (including criticism by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chairmanRajendra Pachauri). However, Tata Motors has promised that it would definitely release Nano's eco-friendly models alongside thegasoline-model.
The Nano was originally to have been manufactured at a new factory in Singur, West Bengal, but increasingly violent protests forced Tata to pull out October 2008. (See Singur factory pullout below.) Currently, Tata Motors is reportedly manufacturing Nano at its existing Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) plant and a mother plant has been proposed for Sanand Gujarat. The company will bank on existing dealer network for Nano initially. The new Nano Plant could have a capacity of 500,000 units, compared to 300,000 for Singur. Gujarat has also agreed to match all the incentives offered by West Bengal government.
Tata Nano Car
The Tata Nano is a rear-engined, four-passenger city car built by Tata Motors, aimed primarily at the Indian market. The car has a fuel efficiency of around 26 kilometres per litre (73 mpg-imp; 61 mpg-US) on the highway and around 22 kilometres per litre (62 mpg-imp; 52 mpg-US) in the city. It was first presented at the 9th annual Auto Expo on January 10, 2008, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi,India. Nano had a commercial launch on March 23, 2009 and a booking period from April 9 to April 25, generating more than 200,000 bookings for the car. The cars started to be delivered to customers after July 17 2009, with a starting price of Rs 100,000, which is approximately equal to UK£1,360 or US$2,160 as of December 2009. This is cheaper than the Maruti 800, its main competitor and next cheapest Indian car priced at Rs 184,641 ($3,988 U.S.). Tata had sought to produce the least expensive production car in the world — aiming for a starting price of Rs 100,000 (approximately US$2,000 as of June 2009).
In early 2008 the news magazine Newsweek identified the Nano as a part of a "new breed of 21st-century cars" that embody "a contrarian philosophy of smaller, lighter, cheaper" and portend a new era in inexpensive personal transportation — and potentially, "global gridlock". The Wall Street Journal confirmed a global trend toward small cars, which includes the Nano.
"Nano" means "small" in Gujarati, the language of the founders of the Tata Group. "Nano" from the SI prefix for one-billionth is derived from the Greek νᾶνος, meaning dwarf, and is sometimes used to mean "small" in colloquial English.
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