Indian auto major, Tata Motors that launched the world's cheapest car, Nano back in 2009 is now working on a 800cc version of the car to position it against the likes of Alto 800, Eon and others. And like we already reported, the company is also working on a smaller diesel engine to be fitted in the car. And if it happens on time, Tata Nano would be the first entry level vehicle with a diesel heart in India.People closely associated with the project say that the all new Nano might come in next 12 months with an expected price tag of Rs 2.4 lakh for the base petrol version. Some Industry analyst believes that the diesel option will be the right move for the company. However, Tata Nano 624cc version which has not been doing as good in terms of sales as the company expected, will still be there, as per the company officials. On the other hand, some industry experts expressed their doubts on the future of 800cc version, as the segment is dominated by players like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.
Speaking to PTI, Tata Group Chairman expressed his concern on the weakening sales performance of the Nano,"We were not prepared to market the car as we should have. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that momentum got lost," he said.
Explaining why Tata Nano could not realise its full potential, he said that transfer issue, insufficient advertisement and dealership network were the major reasons behind the loss of momentum. But he further clarified that all these issues are now being addressed, and the company expects to succeed this time. He also said that the product is now three-four years old, so refreshing the product has become a necessity.
