Well, the moment we have all been waiting for. Tata yesterday officially released there “Peoples Car”, the Nano. At $2,500 this “gadget” is barely highway worthy with a 625cc engine. My personal opinion – a car created to create media hype for Tata, not the car of the masses they are promoting, although some of the hype does seem to have other automotive suits worried that they are lagging behind in the toy business.
I know we have some visitors who open the Garage door in India, what’s your opinion?
With that said though, I have tremendous respect for India’s Tata. The company is no fly by night wanabe. They have a long and rich history in India’s automotive realm. A look at the company over the years does show the potential, that if they acquire Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, they can made a concerted go of it.
Let’s look at Tata over the years –
1954 – Tata launched its first Mercedes Benz diesel truck, the Telco. 
1958 – India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, walks through Tata’s apprentice shop in Jamshedpur. 
1965 – The owner of the first Mercedes Benz Telco diesel truck, Sardar Kartar Singh is presented the key to the company’s 100,000th truck.
1969 – Employees cheer as the first Tata branded truck rolls out, ending the company’s collaboration with Daimler Benz.
1977 – Tata manufacturers its first commercial vehicle at its plant in Pune.
1989 – Tata launches its first light commercial vehicle from Telco, the Tata 407.
1992 – Tata Estate, Telco’s second passenger vehicle is launched by JRD Tata and Ratan Tata.
1998 – Ratan Tata drives the first Tata Indica off the assembly line.
1998 – Tata Motors produced an SUV, the Tata Safari. It was the first SUV to be designed, developed and manufactured totally in India. 
2002 – Tata introduces India’s most competitive indigenous sedan, the Indigo.
2003 – Tata Engineering formally changes to Tata Motors. 
2004 – Tata Motors acquires Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company, South Korea. The first of Tata Novus vehicles from Tata Daewoo is launched.
2004 – Tata Motors starts its global vision with the launch of the Tata Indica in South Africa.
2008 – The Nano 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Jeff, you might have a lot of pictures and think you know TATA’s history,
but you really have no idea of their substance. You need to catch up on that. Its a shame.
TATAs are socio – business philantrophists and fierce patriots of India. They dont muck around and their corporate culture is embodied in Indian Social upliftment. Get the Book “Creation Of Wealth”. The pictures were great by-the-way!
Thanks for the comments. I will take you up on the offer and visit Amazon to get the book. In my estimation the picture with Nehru does portray patriotism and social upliftment that I am sure has steadily progressed since the photo was taken.
I have respect for Tata, I just feel business is business and this car is more hype than substance. I don’t think the vehicle is within the reach of the poor. With the explosion of business and growth of the middle class in India I do not see the car as something that would appeal to that sector.
I deeply appreciate the comments. In your estimation, who do you think will buy the car?
What a price…