Nissan Datsun Go crash test results

The Nissan Datsun Go car which is aimed at the Indian market was recently tested for safety. The car failed spectacularly getting 0 out of possible 5 stars. The car comes without air bags and looking at the video of the test, it would not have done much good even if the car had been fitted with them. If the car can get this badly damaged at just 40mph speeds, I am just wondering what would happen at UK highway speeds of 70mph.

MNCs need to stop pushing lousy products into the emerging markets. And India definitely needs to have some minimum safety standards put in place.

Tata Nano launch today

Tata Nano the World's cheapest car will be commercially launched today.



Watch the 10 things you should know about the Tata Nano slideshow on the Time site.

Go to the Tata Nano microsite for more information about the car.

Tata Nano - the World's cheapest car launched

As promised earlier, India's Tata Motors Ltd today unveiled the world's cheapest car at the 9th Auto Expo show in New Delhi, India.

Dubbed the "people's car", the four-door Tata Nano costs only Rs 100,000 (about $2,500/ £1,300).

It is powered by a 33-bhp 624 cc rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, multi-point fuel injection petrol engine. According to reports, the car gives about 23 km per litre of petrol.


The Standard version

It is definitely a no-frills car with no air conditioning, no power windows or power steering and comes with only one wing mirror. The dash board only has a speedometer, a fuel gauge and an oil-warning light.


The Luxury version

It is expected to be in dealers' showrooms by September.

Read their press release.

It seems that there were some "Protests over 'World's cheapest car' by Tata" as well.

Mahindra & Mahindra entering the US market

I was talking to a few guys about the expected take over of Jaguar and Land Rover by Indian car maker, Tata. While doing so I mentioned the other Indian company who was bidding for the same - Mahindra. It was no surprise that no one had heard of them.

I just found out that they are planning to enter the US market soon.



Found this interesting slide show - Mahinda: An American "Hosehold Name?" narrated by David Kiley.

Tata set to take over Jaguar, Land Rover

Tata Motors, a subsidiary of the Indian Tata group is set to take over British luxury marques Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.

Ford stands to make around £1 billion (about $2.05 billion / Rs 8,000 crore) from the sale.

Tata won over two other bidders , namely, Indian car company, Mahindra & Mahindra and American private equity group, One Equity.

If it works out, this will be the first time ever that an Indian company has taken over a Western auto company.

Jaguar dealers in the US are worried that the take over might hurt the brand image. Ken Gorin, chairman of the Jaguar Business Operations Council, reportedly said:

I don't believe the US public is ready for ownership out of India of a luxury car make...

Read "Tata hits image problems in the U.S."