They said it's impossible. Many laughed at the idea itself. Some went into analytical mode and said it just cannot be done. Some wanted the project to be scrapped. Some wanted to ban it. One man's dream and his commitment to a promise made five years back took the entire world by surprise - the 'Nano' which by any means is not an apology of a car as many had expected.
It's sheer engineering excellence. The specs indicate a courageous act of breaking all barriers and limitations to deliver a car which promises much more than any one expected, applying multitudes of skills and knowledge to reach technology to common man.
In delivering the dream, the Tatas have lifted India to great heights and made the worldwide biggies wonder, "how on the earth did they do it?"
Just look at the reactions:
We cannot make a cheaper car. We don’t know how to make a 1 lakh car unless we sacrifice something. We won’t go below the 800 in our product line-up. Shinzo Nakanishi MD, MARUTI SUZUKI, INDIA BEFORE THE NANO LAUNCH
We have been considering the possibility of a mass car. So far, even our feeling was that such a car can’t be made, but we'll take a closer look at this and explore all possible ways. Arvind Saxena SENIOR VP, MARKETING & SALES, HYUNDAI
I haven't seen the car yet, but there must be something for us to learn from the viewpoint of manufacturing technology and costcutting measures. M Takedagawa PRESIDENT & CEO, HONDA SIEL CARS INDIA
Here is the brilliance of it.
- Dealer price of just one lakh, almost half the price of currently available cheapest car making it the world's cheapest car
- Addressing all safety concerns, they have come out with an all sheet-metal body, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat-belts, strong seats with the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. As if these were not enough, they have added tubeless tyres which have also reduced the overall weight of the car..
-Environmental concerns: The nano promises to bring emission performances exceeding current regulatory requirements with an expected fuel efficiency (20 km/litre) along with low carbon dioxide emissions.
- Over hundered vendors had worked with the team for 3 years to make this a reality
This is COMMITMENT to deliver on a promise made. The value of the impact can only be undestood by counting the number of people who said it is not possible! In fact, it was almost a forgone conclusion that even if some one from Tatas had actually announced that the project will be kept in cold storage, every one would have understood and left it at that. But rely on the Tatas to deliver through engineering excellence and above all they have shown the real meaning of commitment, value & shown the world what it takes to keep a promise.
This could very well be the achievement of the millennium. India salutes. The world looks at him in awe. And, as if all these were his daily routine, the great man has quietly changed gears and has his sights firmly on the other end of cars with Ford.
A well kept promise that will change the way a nation drives.
'...A promise is a promise' Chairman Ratan Tata said as he announced the Tata Nano at a dealer price of one lakh rupees
4 comments:
Yes indeed.. ", a promise is a promise"... hope our politicians get the gravity in brevity !!
the awe doesnt end here.. it has just begun.. earleir only the super rich could afford a car ( which they would take out once a month / year) ..
Then only high paid "computer guys " ( the term IT did not exist then) could think of a car & even plan for it .. as in a 5 yr plan
Now RK Lakshman's Common Man can dream about a car (read vehicle for all weather) and set realistic financtial goals towards aquiring one
@Deepa,
A big Hi! and wishes for a joyous Pongal celebration to you and your family!
On the Nano, you touched that link which I missed - Politicians! Thanks.
This is what G V Dasarathi has written in http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/14nano.htm :
"In enlightened countries the world over, public transport is encouraged, subsidised and given top priority in various ways by policy guidelines. In India there are no such policies.
Cities and towns are designed for private transport. Using public transport is considered infra dig by the populace. The government subjects public transport to very high rates of taxation instead of subsidising it. Buses are considered a nuisance on the roads. Town planning (if it is done at all) does not include planning for public transport.
My city, Bangalore, is a classic example. The government here is in the process of destroying the city by cutting down thousands of trees which gave it the tag of 'green city.' Instead of introducing more buses, roads are being widened to accommodate the exploding population of cars and two-wheelers."
Cutting trees only makes life miserable in Summer.
Even is its a common mans desire, wat about parking in and out of homes??
Doesn't it increase more pollution now.. unless its environmental friendly.
@Priya,
Thanks. That's a valid set of concerns you raised.
Pollution is a grave concern; but then think about this incongruence:
- An auto rickshaw today is clearly the worst polluter on Indian roads. Surprisingly, at a cost of Rs. 130000, it is costlier than the Tata Nano!
The Nano can be an alternative to or even replace all the autorickshaws! We will actually end up with a much cleaner environ. Nano's emission is much better than the best two wheelers available today.
Recently there was a one day strike of autos in Bangalore and we could actually breathe the difference!
And another surprise - Bajaj Auto, the king of auto rickshaws had recently unveiled Bajaj Lite! a small car to be produced in a joint venture with Nissan Renault! So they might hust go ahead and sell that instead of an auto!
- Regarding the parking space, there will be a problem but then what is a Govenment for? Wny do we pay a good portion of our hard earned money to them?
Instead of blaming people, the Government must foresee such things and expand the available infrastructure to match that. Expansion of cities, multi level parking lots, etc
It's time they start functioning in a proactive way rather than the usual symolic reactive activities.
- Also, the Transport Ministry is planning to introduce a clause wherein the idividual buying a car has to prove availability of parking space at home and at wok place. Now, it's just a proposal but if implemented, it can take care of parking chaos.
It's time Governments play the role of enablers to the common man.
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