Tata Motors's ultra-cheap car Nano is still remain a hot topic and has already attracted a long queue of customers. It is the taxi drivers and the cab drivers that stand top on the list many taxi drivers have postponed their plans to buy new cars and prefer to wait for the Nano's launch which will be in this October. Nano was unveiled at the 2008 Auto Expo to be held at New Delhi.
The small car is enhanced with 600 cc engine and a seating capacity for four persons. Earlier it was Tata's Indica and Sumo, the preferred vehicles on account of high fuel efficiency, easy maintenance, and easy affordability but one the Nano is launched it is going to pull all the crowds. Tour operators and BPO cab fleet owners feel the cars provide enough power to run their operations at a lower cost. Taxi owners' and cab vendors around the country swear by Tata Motors' hatchback car Indica and multi-utility vehicle Sumo.
Presently, Indica is the single largest used taxi across commercial transport in India. The diesel and CNG versions remain the most fuel efficient hatchback in its segment. Inspite of spiraling costs, Tata persistently worked out the cost/profit ratio and has managed to stick to its Rs 1 Lakh target. Taxi operators and BPO cab vendors want to have a combined fleet of Tata Indica and Micro to achieve optimum operational costs.
Nano be a worst hit to the auto rickshaw manufacturers. Currently, an auto rickshaw costs Rs 1.4 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), an Indica car costs Rs 3.5 Lakh and an ambassador car costs Rs 4.5 Lakh onwards. Auto rickshaw owners are also eagerly awaiting Nano's release and want to upgrade their services according to the impact it will have. The advent of Indica and Sumo into the market phased out the Ambassador cars from most cities, auto rickshaws may be next.
However, it is yet to be known if the government will allow Tata's one-lakh car for commercial purposes. The taxi operators are keeping their fingers crossed over the government's decision. They hope that the small car will be a major hit in their intra-city operations and also in the tourism segment. It could also create huge employment opportunities in smaller cities.
The small car will be available in both diesel and petrol versions. The diesel version contains the new common rail direct fuel injection developed by Bosch, German leader in automotive component manufacturing, especially for the low cost car.
The taxi fleet operators hope that the diesel version will fetch them higher fuel efficiency than any other car on road. They are expecting the small car to repeat the success of the one-ton truck Tata ACE. It was a runaway success and sells more than any other light commercial vehicle and three-wheeler and is the highest selling small utility truck in the Indian market.
