Ratan Tata, 71, spoke at length to the media on the launch of the Nano, the “Rs 1 lakh car” that put India on the global automobile map.
Ratan Tata, 71, spoke at length to the media on the launch of the Nano, the “Rs 1 lakh car” that put India on the global automobile map. But, as Tata explained, his aim was to produce a car most Indians could afford. Excerpts:
On the Nano being the world’s cheapest car.
We had never conceived the Nano as the cheapest car, but as a vehicle to enable Indian families to own an affordable, all-weather mode of transportation. Today, we are keeping our promise.
On whether he is satisfied with the car.
I am a difficult critic to satisfy. I have been pleasantly surprised by what the car delivers.
On whether the Rs 1 lakh price is an ego-trip.
We made a promise and we are keeping it. The Nano is not an ego trip at all. We had no idea it would attract so much attention. I feel very excited that we were able to go to the last mile to implement Plan B and launch the vehicle in March instead of December or January (next year).
On his message for Mamata Banerjee.
My only statement to her is, ‘Good afternoon’.
On whether the Nano will congest roads.
Every new car or scooter is going to congest the roads. The government is also spending considerable money to improve the infrastructure. We have to recognise that congestion in rural India is not an issue. That is where the car has a great potential.
On where the car is being produced
We are producing it out of Pantnagar (in Uttarakhand), to avoid delays while waiting for the Gujarat plant to come up. The Gujarat plant should be ready by end-2009, or early 2010.
On demand for the car.
We are aware that demand is most likely to outstrip supply in the near term, because this is an interim launch, until the Sanand (Gujarat) facility becomes fully operational. We would like to meet demand as soon as we can. Waiting too long for a car is like waiting too long for a pretty woman, who then becomes fat and old.
On whether the project will make money in the first phases.
I don’t want to comment on the initial or final phases. But the Nano project will make money for Tata Motors. We are not a philanthropy.
On the Nano’s export plans to Europe and US.
We hope to launch a car for the European market some time in 2011. It will probably have a more powerful engine, so it would be a $2,500 car. In fact, it was displayed at the Geneva auto show as the Europa. We think we can further develop the European Nano to export to the US, but it has to be redeveloped to meet US standards.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}