In April, Tata Motors showed interest in making a left-hand drive model of the Tata Nano to be launched in the overseas market. The plan seems to have materialized, as evident from the spotting of a LHD labelled Nano test-mule in Pune. Speculated to be launched in Africa, South America and South-East Asia in this fiscal year, this new car remains technically the same from the inside and the outside apart form the steering wheel and drive controls which have been moved to the left side of the dashboard. The wiper in this new export model is left- inclined.
Apart from the left-hand drive version of the car, it is known that Tata plans to bring out CNG and diesel versions of the car to provide customers with ample options. Interestingly, a couple of months back, Nano diesel was spied while apparently being tested in Pune. It is learnt that the diesel variant of the cheapest car in the world will come with a mileage of about 35 kmpl. This will mean unmatched advantage offered by the car at an affordable price.
Tata Nano has had a rough ride so far with the total sales over three years less than the anticipated annual sales before its release. Ratan Tata had expected to sell 250,000 units every year. However, only 200,000 units have been sold so far. The monthly sales have been anything but consistent ranging from 509 units in one month to over 10,000 units in another.
Despite the dismal track record of Nano and his retirement round the corner, Chairman of the Tata Group Ratan Tata has complete confidence on his little wonder. He believes that there's ample scope for the car to register good sales in this competitive market. So, the industrial tycoon is consistently expanding the capacity of the vehicle and trying to make it available to one and all in the form of different variants.
Over the last three years, several lucrative offers like loan with a nominal down payment of Rs. 15,000 have been given to the customers; however, nothing seems to have helped Tata's cause. With the left-hand drive, Tata hopes to make a worldwide impact on the sales of the 'cute refreshing car'.
