NANO
04-10-2008, 12:37 PM
MUMBAI: Tata Motors has earmarked production of barely 50,000 Nanos from its Singur plant in West Bengal during 2008-09.
Indications are that the first batch of cars will hit showrooms from September.
Vendors associated with the people’s car project told DNA Money that they expected an output of around 15,000 units between September and December going up briskly to 35,000 units during January-March of this fiscal.
A spokesperson for Tata Motors declined to share details on the Nano project.
According to the vendors, who did not want to be identified, Tata Motors has indicated that production will go up substantially during 2009-10 to touch 2.5 lakh units.
By this time, critical infrastructure for the plant like the paint shop etc will be in place and it would be a lot easier to ramp up output. However, the limited number of cars this year could mean that there will be a massive backlog in bookings going by public response to the Nano at the Auto Expo in January.
This will be the biggest challenge to Tata Motors in terms of timely deliveries from the plant to dealerships across the country.
Equally, sources say, the basic version (without air-conditioning) with an on-road price tag of Rs 1.30 lakh is expected to account for only 20% of sales.
The company apparently believes that a lion’s share will be taken up by both the mid-size and top-end versions which will retail at prices closer to the Rs 1.5 lakh mark or even marginally higher.
Indications are that the first batch of cars will hit showrooms from September.
Vendors associated with the people’s car project told DNA Money that they expected an output of around 15,000 units between September and December going up briskly to 35,000 units during January-March of this fiscal.
A spokesperson for Tata Motors declined to share details on the Nano project.
According to the vendors, who did not want to be identified, Tata Motors has indicated that production will go up substantially during 2009-10 to touch 2.5 lakh units.
By this time, critical infrastructure for the plant like the paint shop etc will be in place and it would be a lot easier to ramp up output. However, the limited number of cars this year could mean that there will be a massive backlog in bookings going by public response to the Nano at the Auto Expo in January.
This will be the biggest challenge to Tata Motors in terms of timely deliveries from the plant to dealerships across the country.
Equally, sources say, the basic version (without air-conditioning) with an on-road price tag of Rs 1.30 lakh is expected to account for only 20% of sales.
The company apparently believes that a lion’s share will be taken up by both the mid-size and top-end versions which will retail at prices closer to the Rs 1.5 lakh mark or even marginally higher.