I would say the spectacular failure of this car is a great case study. No one could have predicted that this overhyped car which was feared to throng the Indian roads in millions, would be seen in ones and twos. This Tata guy had clearly said he doesn’t care what happens to the roads, thats not his business. Maybe he would have said the same thing when someone asked him to improve his over polluting trucks- what happens to the air is not my business.
So I am very very overjoyed at the abject failure of this contraption. To my mind the biggest reason of its failure is not safety. And the people who say they will buy it if is safe are liars. they will never buy this car no matter what. For the biggest reason why this car didnt sell is the same reason why it was supposed to sell- cheapest car. A car owner is a car owner. For a car owner, a car is a matter of prestige. People who think the target segment of nano wont see it from a prestige angle are arrogant fools. When a 2-wheeler owner upgrades to nano, it should be a matter of pride for him. But lo and behold! He is the owner of the ’cheapest car’, ’poor mans car’ , ’even a beggar can afford it car’ and what not. Would you buy such a car?
Anyone who looks at him thinks of his poverty first, his car later. which nincompoop would like to be seen in such a car. why not invest some more and get a better car. Why do you think 800 went out of fashion? So if you want to look like a beggar go ahead and buy it. Also I am a firm believer that good sold in India may be worse than other places and they usually are, but they are never better. Also we must thank the west for introducing the air pollution norms our desi gunga dins could copy otherwise we would have been smelling poison day in and day out, thanks to patriotic tataji and his filth belching vehicles.