Tata Nano travels to the US

Tata Motors' Nano, which made its debut two years ago at the New Delhi Auto Expo, was previewed for the first time in the US market at the Detroit Science Centre here yesterday.

Tata Technologies had brought the 'Champagne-Gold' Nano LX, all the way from its Center for Advanced Engineering and Design in Pune, India to Detroit for the event titled 'Better Innovation', which was attended by media and auto company officials.

At the event Tata Technologies CEO and Managing Director Patrick McGoldrick said by bringing the Nano to the US, he hopes to stimulate some out of the box thinking, "create some sort of buzz and excitement that one can do something different".

Later, he read out a letter to the company customers in which Tata Group Chief Ratan Tata has said that the Nano which was being displayed in the US for the first time "represents the execution of a simple concept of an affordable, all-weather family transport".

Meanwhile, those attending the event wanted to know as to when would the $2,500 car be available in the US market.

A Chrysler official, who did not wished to be named, said if the Nano is sold in the US, it would pose a challenge to his company not so much because of the price but due to Nano's "innovativeness, which is the most interesting".

However, he immediately added that "Since Chrysler today is not in the low cost car segment, the car itself is not a competition for us."