Yes, there is a Nano you can drive, and while it is sleek, “amazingly small” and appears to come in a variety of colors, it’s not branded by Apple. An article from Wired magazine introduced this new little Indian car to me, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of it. A visit to the car’s website reveals that Tata Motors is attempting to engage consumers through interactive channels (blog, facebook, etc.) to promote the new vehicle. It's even positioned as “The People’s Car.”
Selling for the equivalent of $3,000 USD per car, this innovation appears to be the answer for many in India who have never been able to own a car before. According to the Wired article, “When it comes to keeping the price down, Tata Motors starts with major advantages. Labor, raw materials, facilities — all cost far less in India than in Detroit. And it doesn’t hurt to be part of the country’s most powerful industrial combine. Tata Steel’s plant is just a couple of hundred miles from Tata Motors’ West Bengal manufacturing plan — a proximity that further cuts costs.”
Unfortunately, with this tiny car, comes a tiny gas tank. The Nano only holds 3.9 gallons. Also, environmental concerns are tied to the notion of more people being able to own cars in India. It should be interesting to watch the success of this car and continue to see how auto manufacturers respond to the needs of today’s world.
