Tata Nano discontinuation on the cards as dealers stop placing orders for the ‘cheapest car’.
Tata Motors might pull the plug on the Nano very soon owing to very low demand. Dealers have stopped placing orders for the car and the average production of the hatchback at the company’s Sanand facility has reduced to two cars a day. During the first seven months of FY 2017-18, the company made 1299 units of the Nano, less than one-fourth of previous year’s corresponding number of 5380 vehicles. Export figures have also been disappointing with only 111 units being exported in the April to October 2017 period.
A quick look at the production and sales figures of the Nano for the April to October 2017 period:
* May – 343 (Production), 355 (Sales)
* June – 275 (Production), 167 (Sales)
* July – 167 (Production), 260 (Sales)
* August – 215 (Production), 180 (Sales)
* September – 58 (Production), 124 (Sales)
* October – 74 (Production), 57 (Sales)
Tata dealerships tell there are hardly any customer queries for the Nano. While the hatchback had a good start post its launch in 2009, over the years, the demand for it has been sluggish. The ‘cheapest car’ tag actually spelt doom for the Nano’s success. However, the electric version of the Nano will be sold as the Jayem Neo come December. Nonetheless, the Nano brand isn’t going to be sidelined just like that. There have been reports suggesting that a more powerful version of the Jayem Neo will be available for private buyers and will carry a Tata badge.
Vendors supplying parts for the Nano have not yet been officially asked to stop production and according to another engine parts supplier, they have been asked not to develop Nano components that are compliant with BS6 emission norms, indicating that the company does not wish to continue production when BS6 emission norms kick in from 2020.
Nano Discontinuation
– Production of Nano comes to all-time low
– Dealers stop placing orders for the hatchback
– Average production reduced to 2 cars a day
– Only 57 units sold in the domestic market in October 2017
Source – BusinessStandard.com