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Now Tata to build Hybrid Nano

Reuters Reporting by Shin Jieun and Kim Yeon-hee 03 Dec 2009

Test Drive Tata Nano

India's Tata Group is planning to produce hybrid versions of its Nano, billed as the world's cheapest car, to join in the environment-friendly trend, its chairman said in an interview with a South Korean newspaper.

The Maeil Business Newspaper on Monday quoted Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, as saying in Mumbai that low-priced goods would create stronger demand than high-end products in India, and the so-called low-price revolution would continue across the world.

Tata Motors, India's biggest vehicle maker, saw the car industry's future lying in economic-friendly models, the daily said.

The chairman did not elaborate on the possible launch of cheap hybrid versions.

The Nano, at about $2,000 per unit, was first delivered in India in July.

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The 71-year-old chairman said he was considering exporting Tata Motors' light truck, Ace, to South Korea, and also assembling or manufacturing the model in its South Korean plant.

For new growth businesses, he picked biotechnology and bioengineering, saying Tata was looking for ways to enter the nutrient-enriched food market.

He added the group was interested in Vietnam and evaluating the U.S. market, in which it has yet to make active investments.

The Indian conglomerate is also studying investments in automobiles, software and hotel businesses as well as bio fuel in South American markets such as Brazil and Argentina.


User's Comments
  • Ricky (22 December 2009 23:06)
    How good will it be if many Indian car companies and Two Wheeler companies think big and manufacture more varieties of cars like Tata-Motors has done will boostIndia's image as a Auto country of the world like Japan and Germany have done. We need to have more than 4/5 home grown companies making good qualities cars in wide varieties and ranges in big volumes. | Reply
  • Arun Chandavarkar (22 December 2009 10:25)
    The car that will put India on wheels | Reply
  • Sean (21 December 2009 21:04)
    I am Proud of TATA and The Man behind it.. I SALUTE Ratan Tata " The Only Indian Car Brand to Compete with International Names. Tata Motors as a co. has matured from Strength to Strength. is a Future Brand and Example for Us. I Salute Once again ! | Reply
  • Yogendra (21 December 2009 14:48)
    Undoubtedly Tata Nano is the CAR of the Year 2009,because it is the only vehicle that could attract the entire world | Reply
  • rahul (20 December 2009 00:50)
    Mr.Ratan tata is realy good man he understood need of common man | Reply
  • IMRAN KHAN (19 December 2009 21:05)
    I guess a AIR Version of Nano at the high price would be a good thing from a Eco friendly perspecti ve for USA. | Reply
  • BalachanderGopal (19 December 2009 19:18)
    we can say simply that it should be satisfied the all the needs of the customers.But it is not that much easy it will take time to fulfill all the needs of the customers.creators of the nano only know the difficulties.but i hope that they have done the things for the nano upto the mark. | Reply
  • chayapathy (18 December 2009 11:16)
    Mr. Ratan Tata is Realy a Bharat Ratna in all its TRUE meaning. As a Citizen of India one should be proud of Him. Unfortunately West Bengal did not support in taking off Nano in their State. But Now the same place is being offered for Railway Activities. Citizens of West Bengal should know that how people are having vested interest. Mr. Ratan Tata Should stepup production and announce the date for New Bookings. I am a Senior Citizen. I Wish Mr. Ratan Tata A Happy | Reply
 chayapathy (29 December 2009 16:41) Reply to chayapathy
When will new Booking starts for Nano in karnataka | Reply
  • Karthik (17 December 2009 12:49)
    TATA is the pride of Hindustaan! | Reply
  • Naveen (17 December 2009 12:45)
    Its a great achivement by indian engineers, and manufactured with good look in very low price range. Cheers to NANO | Reply
  • Ranjith (07 December 2009 14:11)
    TATA is a great company under an excellent leadership. It could easily do wonders in global market. | Reply
  • Gene Braggs (06 December 2009 07:09)
    No one can make another do something. Besides, it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think your a fool rather than, open your mouth and prove it. | Reply
  • Chandru Narayan (06 December 2009 06:45)
    TATA should improve on reliability and safety with their Nano, they could make a good hybrid, if they want to export this car they will need a bigger engine, better instumentation, better music and GPS system built into the dashboard. | Reply
 Aviram (07 December 2009 16:55) Reply to Chandru Narayan
yeah...and sell it for 1.5 lakhs...thats why u are not a businessman. | Reply
 Chandru (07 December 2009 23:57) Reply to Aviram
People will pay for performance, reliability and appearance more than they will pay to buy a cheap car looking like a devil's broomstick. | Reply
 bibin thomas (17 December 2009 10:21) Reply to Chandru
i agree with aviram...chandru,try to check whats Bottom of the Pyramid concept and its position in market
  • Anil Km (05 December 2009 23:00)
    The Nano is just not clicking,they aremerely looking for face savers. | Reply
  • Govindan Nair (05 December 2009 17:22)
    Its good. However, what is lacking in India is good infrastructue. It is high time that Mr. Rata Tata to consider superexpress roads right from kashmir to kanyakumari to ensure that a vehicle can travel smooth and reach from kashmir to kanyakumari in two days time, with express road having exit and enter points everywhere. Dr. Vijay Mallya, ambanis too join hands in this giant venture. The must have check points, hospitals, rest houses, supermarkets, hotels, auto workshops etc. for every 25-30 k.m. points. | Reply
 Arjun Nair (14 December 2009 15:46) Reply to Govindan Nair
its a good thought.. however there is a political system in place which barres the possibility of having any of these conglomerates in achieving this. Given a chance it is easily possible for even one of the big three that you have mentioned. | Reply
  • rohanvashisht (05 December 2009 15:04)
    He is a real RATAN (jewell) of india. Kudhos to Ratan Tata Ji | Reply
 rohanvashisht (05 December 2009 16:15) Reply to rohanvashisht
Kudos* | Reply
  • Anand (04 December 2009 10:28)
    I guess a Electric Version of Nano at the same price would be a good thing from a Eco friendly perspective. This is what INDIA needs. | Reply
 Aditya (04 December 2009 13:14) Reply to Anand
null | Reply
  • Kalagarla (04 December 2009 01:01)
    Kudoss to Mr Ratan Tata... He is the best visionary leader and patriotic Citizen... You can find a lot of CEOs who has vision and can only think in business point of view but Mr Ratan Tata is unique he thinks in business perspective and what is good for the country and the people. I salute you Mr Tata. Hope you find a perfect replacement who can continue your vision and patriotism. | Reply
  • Prashant (04 December 2009 00:35)
    Mr. Ratan Tata... How about building GOOD ROADS in India first? Secondly, how about infusing the Indians with good DRIVING SENSE? After that, make all the cars you want. What we need first are good roads and sensible drivers.... cars are aplenty anyway... | Reply
 M Vashi (05 December 2009 03:02) Reply to Prashant
I have seen Nagging Haters who complaints on every occasion but Prashant I have to say you are the Badshah of all. You can do anything creative but if somebody else does then you criticize them. I got two words for you "Doob Maro" | Reply
 Rest of Bengali (04 December 2009 18:20) Reply to Prashant
Are you from Waste-Bengal? | Reply
 Aditya (04 December 2009 13:11) Reply to Prashant
If you yourself and me myself decide to inculcate within ourselves the good road sense..the problem is more than solved. | Reply
 Anand (04 December 2009 10:32) Reply to Prashant
I guess that is for individuals like us to take care. I don't think its apt for us to pose this question to visionary businessmen. Don't you think so. | Reply
 Ram Sharma (04 December 2009 06:13) Reply to Prashant
Road building is for the Netas and Babus governing Hindustan. But as it is with the corrupt politicians, the cart must be placed before the donkey. If you were waiting anything good coming from them there would be only donkeys pushing the cart from rear. | Reply
 Dharmapad (04 December 2009 05:54) Reply to Prashant
Answer to your first Q: Ask your moronic politician / or the political party you elect.Answer to your second Q: Ask yourself? You should be the change that you are expecting from others. | Reply
  • Santosh (04 December 2009 00:19)
    Kudos to Mr Tata. Sir can you also think about complete electric vehicle as a variant for Nano and other Tata models? that will be a notch ahead of others... including a solar powered car. | Reply
  • Bindu (04 December 2009 00:02)
    Ratan Tata is making India a trendsetter with the Nano Idea....I like it and when i return to India, Nano is going to be my car. | Reply
  • JD Singh (03 December 2009 23:57)
    From emerging biodiesel plants huge amount of biomass ( non edible) will be produced. This mass can be converted into biogas ( 50: 50 mixture of methane and Co2). Methane can be seperated from the mixture to be used as CNG in these hybride cars. This will help in cutting down consumption of fossile fuel petrol /diesel. Ultimate reduction of GHG to help in imrovement of environment and to curb global warming effect. Mr. Ratan is the only visionary business leader who can boost this route of fuel. | Reply
 Aditya (04 December 2009 13:17) Reply to JD Singh
Dear JD Singh,I would only encourage you to discuss the issue with TATA R | Reply
  • Indian (03 December 2009 18:26)
    Super Idea !!! Well done. As always TATA will remain te leader in setting trends in the Indian Auto industry | Reply
  • Razvi Raza (03 December 2009 17:35)
    Surely... Mr. Ratan Tata is a visionary and makes India proud of him. His ways of functioning and statesmanship is really comendable. Always handled situations to the best effort like 26/11 last year. He needs to be saluted and persons like him must be teh policy-makers for India, if our country has to move in a much better direction. | Reply
 Jaswant Sengar (03 December 2009 19:31) Reply to Razvi Raza
I agee completely with you Mr. Razvi. They (Tata's) are the most admired business family of Asia. | Reply
  • deepak (03 December 2009 17:01)
    Mr. Ratan Tata, Proud to be an Indian. | Reply
  • M S Sharma (03 December 2009 16:25)
    Yeah Ratan TATA can do it for sure.His Vision made INDIA Proud.Salute to him | Reply
  • rkpatel (03 December 2009 16:03)
    It is BIZZARE to think what took so long for TATA to build HYBRID-NANO..!!i BELIEVE the HYBRID-NANO should be CNG-GAS-ELCTRIC..!!Think about that for a moment..!! | Reply
 kish (03 December 2009 21:13) Reply to rkpatel
Y not CNG-GAS-HYDROGEN-ELECTRIC-DISEL..Think about that for a moment!!!! | Reply
 mahendra vithlani (03 December 2009 20:55) Reply to rkpatel
must be electric. | Reply
 Smart Man (03 December 2009 22:08) Reply to mahendra vithlani
Industrialists like Ratan Tata should focus on using highly pressurised Gobar Gas to run next hybrid Nano. It will be environmentally friendly and help improve cleanliness. | Reply
 Anonymous (04 December 2009 06:55) Reply to Smart Man
All the Gobar can be provided by our politicians and Bureaucrats since they have plenty of it in their minds and body.
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