Abuja (Nigeria), July 03: Tata Motors, India's
largest auto maker, will introduce its small car
Nano--considered the world's cheapest--in Nigeria within next
18 months, ahead of its planned launch in Europe.
The car would be available for about NGN 360 for the base
model, same as the price in the Indian markets. The car
carries a price tag of Rs 1.23 lakh to Rs 1.72 lakh
(ex-showroom) in the Indian capital for three variants.
"Tata Motors will make the Nano available in Nigeria in
the next one year to one and a half years," a senior official
of Tata Africa Nigeria, Sudeep Ray, said.
"The launching of the Nano was branded everyman
behind the wheel and will benefit Nigerians much as public
transport systems like metro are not available here.
"The car (Nano) will cost NGN 357,480 (about Rs 1.16
lakh) in Nigeria, which is much less than the price of most
second hand saloon cars sold here," Ray said. The cost of an
used car usually starts at NGN 500,000 in the country.
Ray, however, declined to give details whether the
'cheapest' car of the world be assembled in Nigeria or it
would be sold as a completely-built-unit.
A Tata Motors spokesperson from India said: "The company
has said that the Tata Nano can be marketed in other
countries, but timelines, modes and countries are yet
to be finalised."
Earlier in March, Tata Motors had showcased the European
version of the Nano, which the company planned to launch by
2011.
Conceived in 2003, Tata Motors had launched the much-
hyped 'cheapest' car in India on March 23 this year. The car
has cost over Rs 2,000 crore to the company.
Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in many
countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, South
East Asia and Latin America.
Bureau Report