Tata Nano, world’s cheapest car, set for U.S. debut in New York

The Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car and arguably the world’s most discussed automotive innovation since the Ford Model-T, Volkswagen Bug and ‘57 Chevy, will make its United States on Feb. 18 in New York — sort of.



The Nano, “the People’s Car” which debuted in India last year amid much anticipation as the newest offering of Tata Motors, is currently available in its native country.

But the Nano (only one) will be make its first United States appearance as a “design achievement” at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.

The bright yellow edition of the Nano will be on display at the Great Hall of the museum, located at 2 East 91st Street in Manhattan. The Nano will be on display with accompanying literature and pictures through mid-April.

“The Cooper-Hewitt is showing the Tata Nano because, as the world’s most affordable car, it is a design achievement and it has public fancy,” said Cara Mc-Carty, the museum’s curatorial director.

Tata Motors has already passed all European Union crash tests and safety norms and is expended to launch Nano Europe within a year. Tata’s electric vehicle, Indica, was displayed in at the Delhi Auto Expo in January and a hybrid is in planning stages.

Tata has discussed distribution of the Nano in the United States, but there are no definitive plans.

Tata to Launch U.S. Nano

Tata Motors, the people's car of India, could, in just a matter of years, drive into the U.S. auto scene.

At the opening day of India's 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi on Tuesday, Tata Motors'chairman announced that the company will bring the small, affordable car to the U.S. in three years, albeit with modifications to make it more appealing to the U.S. market -- mainly the inclusion of larger engines, which would require additional crash tests.

"We recognize that there is a market for the Nano in developing countries," Ratan Tata said. "We also recognize there is a market for a low-priced car in the developed world." The Nano is currently priced at about $2,500, making it one of the cheapest cars in the world.

The introduction of the Nano to the U.S. could follow sales in Europe by the end of 2011, according to Reuters.

Alongside auto majors like Toyota, Honda and Suzuki, who showcased compact and "green" cars during the auto expo, Tata Motors unveiled four low-, mid- and high-end vehicles, according to the The Economic Times of India. Among them were a seven-seater multipurpose vehicle named Tata Aria, an 8-seater Tata Venture, the Magic IRIS and the Jaguar XJ sedan.