Eleven years after its acquisition of Siemens VDO for more than 11 billion euros, the German Continental is preparing to partially cede these activities. With 40,000 employees for a turnover The transmission division (Powertrain) is expected to be listed on the stock market from mid-2019 as part of a major reorganization, the second-largest German automotive… Continue reading Big bang at the German Continental
Tag: Tata
UK joins project for autonomous vehicle platform that can find potholes
Two UK road authorities and Jaguar Land Rover are contributing to a global research project intended to develop a system that could enable autonomous vehicles to spot potholes. Using a platform created by connected tech and transport analytics firm Inrix, JLR, Transport Scotland and Transport for West Midlands will contribute to the development of the AV Road Rules… Continue reading UK joins project for autonomous vehicle platform that can find potholes
Chelsea Truck Company: The car firm made in Chelsea
The King’s Road in west London is overrun with fearsomely expensive boutiques and exclusive restaurants. It has long been the epicentre of London’s fashion elite, a sort of elongated headquarters for the city’s trendsetters. It is a haven for supercar spotters too. Lamborghini Huracáns are part of the furniture along here. But for all of… Continue reading Chelsea Truck Company: The car firm made in Chelsea
Tata Discontinues Nano City Car
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Tata Discontinues Nano City Car
15 Jul 2018, 16:52 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile
11 photosOf the most unfathomable, uninteresting, unworthy, uncanny, and unforgettable cars to have made it into series production, the Nano is up there at the top with the very worst of them.
Introduced by Tata as a cheap means of personal transport in 2008, the Nano is no longer with us. Production came to a virtual stop in May over drying demand, and as of June 2018, Tata has stopped making the Nano altogether.
Automotive News reports that Tata produced one Nano in June, “down from 275 in the same month last year.” The confirmation of the Nano’s dismissal, however, comes from the export numbers. Which were zero, if you were actually wondering.
The Nano, which starts in India at the equivalent of $3,500, was interesting to the value-conscious buyer back in 2008. But things have changed since then. Even the European low-cost segment has seen changes since 2008, with Dacia upping its game with superior products and after-sales service.
In addition to the horrific exterior styling, the Nano is less comfortable than a ride on the bus and just as lacking in terms of safety. But most of all, it was the fault of Tata for thinking that the lowest price possible is what will make the Nano a commercial hit.
Tata even thought that it would be great to electrify the Nano, but that didn’t work out either. Automotive News puts it as follows: “India may not be ready for the pizazz of futuristic vehicles. But it's past the point of no-frills metal shells.” And that’s the thing with the Nano.
Instead of being the go-to car for those with budgets on a shoestring, it became a repugnant reminder that the people who are now part of the aspirational middle class were poorer and more limited in options in 2008.
The bottom line is, Tata ignored one of the most important aspects of a customer’s mindset by omitting a simple question. It doesn’t all boil down to “can I afford this car?” but “do I want this car?”
On the matter of wants versus needs, the most basic of economic laws teach us that a growing middle class favors wants over needs. And with that, Tata should take note for the future.
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India Digest: 19thMile, Spanugo get funds; Mobycy to raise $3m; Tata’s lending platform
July 13, 2018 In the startup space, sales acceleration platform 19th Mile has raised around Rs 1.2 crore ($180,000) in an angel round of funding, Spanugo has secured investment from Ideaspring Capital and The Fabric, while Gurugram-based bike sharing platform Mobycy is in advanced talks to raise $3 million from Venture Catalysts, IDG Ventures and Orios Venture… Continue reading India Digest: 19thMile, Spanugo get funds; Mobycy to raise $3m; Tata’s lending platform
Waymo-branded Jaguar I-Pace vehicles hit the streets of San Francisco
Waymo’s next phase in self-driving cars has begun. The former Google self-driving project that spun out to become a business under Alphabet has received its first three all-electric I-Pace crossover sport utility produced by Jaguar Land Rover. These I-Pace EVS — the first on U.S. roads outside of JLR’s own fleet — can be seen driving around… Continue reading Waymo-branded Jaguar I-Pace vehicles hit the streets of San Francisco
Press Releases – Environmental impact of car production strongly reduced over last decade
Brussels, 12 July 2018 – The latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) shows that auto makers have significantly reduced the environmental impact of manufacturing over the last decade, even though the number of cars produced increased from 11.9 million in 2013 to 17 million in 2017. The new figures, recently published in… Continue reading Press Releases – Environmental impact of car production strongly reduced over last decade
In a 1st, Tata Motors picks up 26% in startup TruckEasy
MUMBAI: Tata Motors, the flagship of the $100-billion Tata Group, has picked up 26% in freight aggregator TruckEasy, marking its first stake-purchase in a domestic startup. The transaction, for which the investment amount wasn’t disclosed, gives Tata Motors two seats on the board of the three-year-old, Bengaluru-based TruckEasy. Tata Motors’ bet on TruckEasy could boost… Continue reading In a 1st, Tata Motors picks up 26% in startup TruckEasy
SpotHero introduces 500 autonomous car-ready garages in Chicago
Conventional cars drive the bulk of Chicago-based SpotHero‘s business, but the parking inventory and booking startup is setting its sights on a driverless future. Today, it announced that more than 500 of its connected parking garages in Chicago have been adapted to accommodate autonomous cars, trucks, and SUVs. “Significant strides in both vehicle and parking technologies… Continue reading SpotHero introduces 500 autonomous car-ready garages in Chicago
Tata Motors picks up 26% stake in TruckEasy
Download press kit 10 July, 2018 ~Investment will help gain insights into the logistics space~ Tata Motors picks up 26% stake in TruckEasy – Seen in the photograph – Avinash Achar, Vikram Kodgi, Nikhil Thomas – the 3 promoters of TruckEasy with Girish Wagh – President, CVBU, Tata Motors, Shailesh Chandra, President – Electric Mobility… Continue reading Tata Motors picks up 26% stake in TruckEasy