Chandigarh: Tata Motors dealerships across the region say they have been inundated with calls for bookings of Nano, the small family car showcased by the Tatas a few days ago. A spokesperson of Hind Motors said, “We have entertained some hundred enquiry calls as to whether the bookings have started or not.”
The cars admirers aren’t restricted to the middleclass, who are aspiring to upgrade from two-wheelers to four-wheelers. In fact, people who own luxurious sedans have also been more than impressed by its arrival. Aman Bir Singh, a prominent hotelier, says, “If I say it is a revolutionary concept, it will be an understatement. Tatas have notched something amazing that India should be proud of.”
Sceptics, however, are of the opinion that once the initial uproar of the car’s launch subsides, people will start looking for comforts in the car and that could be its undoing. After all, not many people prefer to drive cars sans air conditioning and power steering these days.
Chartered Accountant Raman Aggarwal, who owns a BMW, explains, “You need to do a cost and benefit analysis. Look at the price. It is merely one lakh. Think of thousands of people who are commuting by two wheelers and face the elements. For them the comfort of travelling together with the family and protection from rain and sunlight is most important. This is what the car is doing.” He says it shall reduce the chasm between the haves and have -ots. “The majority of the population of India is lower middleclass. This vehicle will transform their lives for ever.”
In fact, Ratan Tata has famously said that it was the vision of the typical Indian family on a two-wheeler with a child standing between the father and the handlebar, one squeezed between the father and mother riding pillion and one dangling precariously in the mother’s lap, which led him to develop this car. As per estimates of the total road fatalities in Indian cities, two-wheelers account for one third.
Apart from the target group, there is a strong likelihood of the car being purchased by families who already have two-three cars. As Indian cities get clogged by traffic, its smaller size shall facilitate navigation. In fact, the admiration for the automobile is also pouring in from other car companies. Rishi Aggarwal, an auto enthusiast and owner of Toyota dealership says, “The car has raised the bar for Indian auto industry. As regards comforts, let us not forget that it will be much more comfortable than driving a motor cycle. It is a phenomenal achievement.”
Source: ENS