February 17, 2008

An indian company has launched the world’s cheapest new car, the Nano, costing just £1,250. That’s less than the cost of adding carpets and floor mats to your new Audi R8.

The Nano is, of course, crap. It shouldn’t be driven on the motorway because the makers have only tested it up to 65mph, and India’s motoring pedigree is suspect, to say the least. What was the last decent Indian car you remember? And look at it. Would you be seen dead in this thing? Maybe Smart Car drivers will love it.

The only feature that could swing it for me is if it has a decent warranty, you probably won’t get a more reliable, or at least, guaranteed, motor.

Where else could you spend $1,250 and get a car with a warranty? Well, it’s all a bit academic at the moment because the car isn’t coming here yet. It’s only on sale in India right now but there are plans to export to Africa, South East Asia and Latin America after two or three years and there is the possibility of a tie up with Fiat - masters of the rubbish city runabout – to bring the car into Europe if that proves successful.

To be fair, the car’s filling a gap in the market for emerging economies such as those in Asia and Latin America, where wages are shooting up to around $6,000 a year. Tiny by our Western standards, but pretty good in these emerging markets and enough to splash out on a new Nano to get the family to the market and back.

It’s cheaper and safer than a moped, and that’s about the only positive thing I can think of to say about it.

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