Renault-Nissan vows to build world's cheapest car? Nano-nah-nah-nah-nah!
Tata Nano – Click above for high-res image gallery
The other day we alerted you to the "fact" that Ford will be releasing a brand new $650 car. But as does everything that sounds too good to be true, the car in question was a severely used (and dented) 1993 Ford Taurus, and the Wisconsin-based masters of parody at The Onion were behind the video, not the Ford Motor Company. We mention this because more than one of you took the time to comment without watching the video, and the results were quite funny – in a laughing at you sort of way. Today though, is no joke.
Carlos Ghosn, the lovable star of his own Japanese manga comic and the CEO of Renault-Nissan, is claiming that his company will produce a car that costs less than the $2,500 Tata Nano, making the as-yet-to-be-named car the cheapest in India, and therefore the least expensive in the world. The car will be built by Bajaj Auto, an Indian scooter and rickshaw company. Not to be left out of the party, both Toyota and GM have expressed interest in selling "ultralow-cost small cars" on the Subcontinent.
However, these cheap, small cars just don't sell themselves. So far, Tata has managed to move just 10,500 Nanos since July. For their part, Bajaj and Renault-Nissan were hoping to get their ultralow-coster on the road by 2011, but there have been delays. First announced last year, Ghosn said that the delays should come as no surprise since neither Bajaj or Renault-Nissan has ever made such a vehicle. He did note, however, that such a car is "critical" to Renault-Nissan's presence in India.
"I don't want Renault and Nissan to be makers of very pretty cars that people dream about but cannot afford." said Ghosn. He also said that by the time Renault and Nissan's small car debuted it might no longer be the very cheapest. There are also plans afoot to export the new vehicle out of India, just like Tata is planning to do with the Nano, though that car would most likely be slightly reworked and therefor more expensive. Tip of the pith helmet to Neil!
Gallery: Tata Nano
[Source: The Los Angeles Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
elpyrodude 2:34PM (11/10/2009)
"Tata has managed to move just 10,500 Nanos since July"
If I'm not mistaken that's a manufacturing capacity problem holding sales back. There were over 200k applications to try to get the car before it was even on sale
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500 11:25PM (11/10/2009)
Maybe the other 190,000 failed the credit check...
Azael 2:49PM (11/10/2009)
They can save money by only having one door on the car.
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shiver me timbers! 2:50PM (11/10/2009)
I just bought a junker Toyota Tercel for $60 bucks. changed the oil, filled it with gas and I get 42 miles per gallon. Who needs a $2500 car.
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Yzeron 3:02PM (11/10/2009)
This is the perfect car for people that take their test 950 times before passing it.
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cruiseoveride 3:03PM (11/10/2009)
"I don't want Renault and Nissan to be makers of very pretty cars that people dream about but cannot afford."
Bwahahahahahahaha hahaa
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kevinhooker1 3:07PM (11/10/2009)
There is already a cheaper car out there, it's called a golf cart! Those things have come a long way over the years!
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Farmboy 3:34PM (11/10/2009)
I think the Altima is one of the cheapest cars in a different sense....
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lne937s 4:40PM (11/10/2009)
http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/awards.html
Would that be the #1 in initial quality among midsized cars, Best Buy, top ranked for no more money kind of "cheap"?
michaelB 4:10PM (11/10/2009)
Made by a rickshaw factory...it must be safe! Now the best part is for under $2500 you could be rolling with some true wagon wheels, i mean no chopping or modification and you have the largest rims on the block...NICE!
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Cypher09 4:08PM (11/10/2009)
Race to the bottom.
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pdxghr 4:21PM (11/10/2009)
That picture and caption was my best laugh of the day!
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Zaphod 4:59PM (11/10/2009)
Perhaps we can take up a collection and buy Ford-haitng Matt one.
frugalsun 5:06PM (11/10/2009)
The nano dominates the landscape, but always room from fresh wanna bees. All Ghosn has to do is buy a nano, remove the wiper and sell it cheaper in dry arid places (like arizona ). Love the Nano pic (like a gunslinging cowboy coiled for a fight). the TATA Nano rocks !!! bring It On !@!
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Denis 5:30PM (11/10/2009)
Take away the headlights and install a large round centered headlight and you have THE CYCLOPS (of R&T fame). I want one, maybe at SEMA next time.
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P.V. 5:49PM (11/10/2009)
The Nano needs some competition; could Mahindra (an Indian automaker that has partnered with Renault) be part of this as well (as Bajaj)?
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steergreen 5:54PM (11/10/2009)
Is that really a pic of the cheapest car in the world? Looks pretty solid to me. Im impressed.
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J 7:32PM (11/10/2009)
I say move over Tata and let Cub Cadet or Yardman show you how to build a lawn mower, oops I mean car.
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Avinash machado 1:58AM (11/11/2009)
The 21st Century Model T and Beetle.
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carazoocars0 4:12AM (11/11/2009)
The "world's cheapest car from Nissan-Renault" will surely give a tough time to the Tata Nano. But will it really attract customers? The Nano is struggling to live up to Tata Motors expectations.
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