Others wake up to NANOs call

Till last year every one doubted when Ratan Tata used to speak of his dreamcar, and all other car manufacturers had said that this is impossible or even if they do it it would be substandard quality car which would not meet the safety and emission standards.

Now that TATA has made it and shown it to the world, every other company is talking about a cheaper car.. this started with Bajaj unvieling the concept car before TATA Nano and now Hyundai and Maruti also talking of smaller chearer car.

The question is - Do you need to be pushed to a corner to start thinking innovatively ? or companies are happy exploiting customers ignorance, (what i mean is if i knew a product can be made @ x then would i pay 1.5x ) ?

Lean Design - NANO

It is interesting to note that TATA have not only looked at cutting cost in soucing and manufacturing but have done it at the design stage. Lean Design is just not about designing to keep cost low by using cost effective material, or reducing design cost it is about designing to maximise profit or DFP (Design for Profit). I have also put some more thoughts in my other blog.
http://www.infosysblogs.com/thinkflat/2008/01/nano_innovation_in_automobile.html

analyst speak - NANO

Every single analyst - (Hormazd, Adil Darukahanawala) were going gaga and feel that the product will be a grand success and give competitors a run for their money. Nano is stylish, spacoius (even though 8% smaller than maruti 800 it is 20% more spacious inside) and has the best of class parts like clear Head lights and a large wind screen.

Over 400 journalist from around the world were present who gave a standing ovation when Mr. Tata unveiled the car.

TATA Nova

While i have been wanting to blog on various innovations that are happening in the Car Industry, there is no better time to start than today when TATA Motors has unveiled the NANO - the $ 2500 car. When Ratan Tata spoke of his dream 4 years back every one doubted the capability of an Idian comapany to do it and that too at the price he was talking. I saw the NANO today during unveiling and can say that it is a brilliant car and will surely be a big success.

A car to be priced at $ 2500 which is 624 cc , 33 bhp which meets Euro 4 norms is amazing and could nothave been done with thinking out ofthe box and pushing the imagination of the team working on it.