The Detroit News, internationalists that they are, report that Renault/Nissan is entering into a joint venture with India's Bajaj motors to take on the ultra-cheap Tata Nano (a.k.a. the one lahk car). Bajaj will own fifty percent of the joint venture, with Renault and Nissan splitting the rest. Together, they'll build a new factory in Chakan, India, Starting in 2011, the facility should eventually bang-out some 400k entry-level rides per year, heading for both the Indian and Chinese new car markets. No details are available about the powertrain or standard equipment (wheels? side mirrors? doors?). Whether this sudden craze for inexpensive mass market motors becomes a cash cow or a money pit remains to be seen; the challenge represents one of Nissan/Renault's most ambitious international projects. Still, Renault found plenty of karma with their first forray at the bottom of the market with the [formerly Dacia] Logan. The Indian version, built with Mahindra and Mahindra was a big hit for all concerned. The Iranians also build a version, but that's a story for another day.
Find Reviews by Make:
Read all comments
Call me crazy, but I still like that little Nano. Slap some 14-inch wheels on it along with real axles, transmission, and drive shaft that won’t explode at 65 mph, and you’ve got a decent cheap car that gets great gas mileage still for no more than $4k.
This price point requires massive volume and so only few companies can be successful.
The Fiat 500, Citroen 2CV, Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Model T come to mind.
Good luck, Renault/Nissan.
I still can’t get past the teeny tiny wheels and tires.
Then there was that ‘Th!nk’ car Ford bought into, back in Jac Nasser days:
http://media.ford.com/images/large/Th!nk_ringdal.jpg
Restyled to look like this:
http://www.evworld.com/press/th!nk_fcev.jpg
More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%21nk
I would think the easy way to hedge the rising steel costs is to try and make it mostly out of plastic. Crash worthiness? Who cares for $2500.
drifter
No argument from me. They both are equally strange. My point is, how does that size wheel function on third world roads?
The real issue for me is how those tiny wheels and the inferior bearing design limit the car to 45 mph (I believe). Slap some real wheels (14″ rims) and use materials that won’t quickly desintigrate at typical speeds in the developed world and that thing is a good alternative for commuting to work, getting the groceries, etc. I mean really, how much more does a robust drivetrain and 14″ wheels cost? It couldn’t add more than $1,500 and probably not nearly that much to the cost of the vehicle.
By the way, Badonkadonk – I hope I got that spelling right ;-) – vehicles look even dumber to me.
A real good set of wheel bearing wont cost $10 more.
If gas prce persist to go up, we’ll be driving these here soon.
Business Week has an interesting article on the Nano:
Inside the Tata Nano Factory
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2008/id2008059_312111.htm?campaign_id=yhoo
My point is, how does that size wheel function on third world roads?
There’s a joke in there about Toronto somewhere. But seriously, the potholes here in Toronto would engulf those little donuts. My Toyota has 16 inches and I’ve dropped into potholes so deep I’ve landed on the air dam.
@Alex Dykes: with oil as the major source chemical for plastics, I’m not sure plastic is going to be a cost effective replacement for steel.
A real good set of wheel bearing wont cost $10 more.
I’m assuming that the bearings aren’t the only substandard part that would need upgrading when I estimate no more than $1,500 more for substantially the same car, but one that will have a slightly higher top speed.