Nano gets Geneva buzzing

The Tata Nano received a very positive response from the international automotive community at Geneva Motor Show, which ran from March 6 to 16. Unveiled by chairman Ratan Tata in front of a huge gathering of international media, the Nano received the same adulation, albeit on a smaller scale, that it got at the recent New Delhi Auto Expo.

At Geneva, Tata showedcased the top-end version of the Nano to show that this little car can be upgraded to meet European market needs. It featured leather seats, brushed aluminium trim and airbags, while the interior trim was a smart combination of red and black.

The price of this version however is unlikely to be close to the Rs 1 lakh cost of the base model. Even if it is around 4,000 Euros (Rs 2.4 lakh), that would still make the Nano the cheapest car in Europe.

Almost every global CEO from GM’s Rick Wagoner to Renault-Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn came by the Tata stand to see the Nano for themselves and try to figure out how Tata had managed to price the Nano so competitively.

It is not clear when Tata will begin selling the Nano in Europe since it will be busy meeting demand from Indian buyers over the next few years. It is likely that exports to Europe won’t begin for the next three to four years, by which time, the face-lifted or upgraded Nano will be launched. According to company sources, Tata has already begun work on a more advanced version of the Nano, specifically for international markets.

Tata also showed its New Indica at Geneva, a debut that almost went unnoticed thanks to the Nano. However, it’s the new Indica powered by Fiat engines that will be Tata Motors’ main model driving its thrust into the European market. The new Indica is a huge improvement over the previous model and this will make it more competitive in Europe.

The Tata Group itself has gained a reputation as a formidable business house after the takeover of steelmaker Corus and the imminent acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover and now the debut of the Nano. The company will be eager to cash in on this wave of goodwill.