Nano gets into Sri Lankan taxi market

Tata Nano, one of the world's cheapest car, today entered Sri Lanka's lucrative taxi market with a fleet of 45 cars and an overload of passengers.

A local company launched the service as an alternative to expensive air conditioned taxis, but more comfortable than the ubiquitous three-wheel taxi.

"We launched with 45 cars and hope to raise the fleet to 200 before the end of this year," a spokesman for the Nano Taxi company told PTI.

He said the fare was almost half of what is charged by other companies which use Japanese and Korean-made sedans.

The Nano Taxi will also employ female drivers, he said.

Nano was launched in Sri Lanka late last month as the first foreign destination for Tata's smallest car.

Although it costs just over $3,000 , the same car costs over $8,500 in Sri Lanka because of high local taxes.