Tata Motors of India plans to market the next-generation of its ultra-cheap Nano in Europe, a new report finds. Tata revealed the $2,500 Nano last month, but will only initially sell the four-seater in its domestic market. However, Tata is eying markets in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia for the Nano, and plans to export the micro-car to Europe within four years.
“We will develop a successor model in four years time, which will meet the Euro 5 emission regulations and the crash standards in Europe,” Girish Wagh, head of Tata’s compact car business, told Germany’s Focus magazine.
Tata’s goal is also to lower the Euro-spec Nano’s fuel consumption from its current level five liters per 100 kilometers to just three liters per 100 kilometers.
Because of more lax standards, the Nano could be shipped to developing markets outside of India in just two to three years.
The Nano was originally scrutinized by the world’s automakers, but several automakers are now scrambling to develop their own ultra-cheap car programs. Nissan has already announced a joint venture with India’s Bajaj to create a $3,000 car and GM CEO Rick Wagoner recently told Leftlane that GM is watching the Nano very closely. Reports have even surfaced that GM will use its Wuling brand to create a Nano-rival.
Though the Nano looks to be heading to Europe, it remains doubtful that the micro-car would ever make it to the U.S.
