Tata Nano Car – A New approach to product development 

The dream project of Mr. Ratan Tata to develop 1 lakh car got the shape when Tata Motors launched Tata Nano car in January 2008. Mr. Tata wanted to develop a local transport for middle class families who use two wheelers for commuting individual as also with family. The two wheeler mode is relatively an unsafe mode of transportation. Tata Motor engineers decided to go beyond the conventional cost reduction exercise. As Mr. Tata said only countries like India and Pakistan can make such a low cost vehicle primarily because of the ingenuity of the people and the facts that India is one the largest two wheeler markets. The engineers worked to redesign the car engine as also the very design and the style   of the car. Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering (I.D.E.A) was mandated with the styling I.D.E.A is a design house that had earlier designed Tata Motor’s Indica.

After several promotions the engineers finally built a 624 cc engine with a bhp of 34 as this was the optimal design. For the first time the high pressure die cast engine was made in India.

Compared to Maruti 800 which delivered 37 bhp, Nano’s engine was more optimal with a multi-point fuel injection system developed by Bosch.

To meet the final price of 1 lakh, Tata also had to pair their margins and produce at sub-stantially low cost. They also got prepared for a longer breakeven. All components manufactures redesigned their components to meet the Tata Nano requirement. For example the steering shaft was made hallow thereby reducing the cost and weight. MRF redesigned the tyre to bear extra weight on the rare wheels

Tata Nano car also conforms to the stiffest pollution control norms and passed through all crash test.It has a four-speed manual gearbox and high on fuel efficiency.

The car was launched internationally as a new paradigm in affordable or frugal innovation and one that herald a new era in small car manufacturing in India. It put the Third World on Wheels and had far reaching implications for the whole world. Commenting on this development, Chief Designer of the ford motor Company J.Mays said, For the first time in the world history of auto industry there is a generation that is connected globally. They see an iPod or a Nokia Phone or a 1200 dollar women’s hand bag and think just because it is small does not mean that it can’t be fantastic”. And very belief will now guide them to buy low cost small like Nano.

Details of Nano

Specs:

Engine: 624 cc / 33 bhp4 door, 5 seater (and yes 4 Wheeled too) Rear Engine Weight: 600 kgsMileage - 22-23 km/liter

Variants:

Standard Deluxe (with AC)

Future:

 Diesel Variant Exports outside India or assembly plants outside

Comparison

8% less in length (bumper to bumper) with respect to Maruti 800 21% more in inner space with respect to Maruti 800

Looks:

Front side looks more like Matiz (or Spark as we now call it)Back side looks more like India with those long tail lights.

Insight:

People often criticize something that is making waves everywhere. This has also been the case with Tata Nano. Competitors, safety regulators, environmentalists and most others conceived the problems that India will face, when such a car is available, much before the actual launch of the car.