[romeomidhun]

IMO, Tata's downfall started with the "cheapest" tag that got associated with it when they started marketing Nano. So Tata, there is not much you can extract below Tiago. Try to be a good player with good products in the B/B+/C segments.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by romeomidhun

IMO, Tata's downfall started with the "cheapest" tag that got associated with it when they started marketing Nano.

I assume you mean the nano's downfall.

Originally Posted by romeomidhun

So Tata, there is not much you can extract below Tiago. Try to be a good player with good products in the B/B+/C segments.

On the contrary - there is plenty that can be done. The Tiago is simply overdone for the asking price. They have gone all guns blazing with quality of materials, detailing, fancy looks, feature lists.

There is certainly room for a less loaded, more functional car that will sit with the likes of Altos, REDI-GOs and the lot. If they bring that one with CNG - wonderful.

[airbender]

Originally Posted by DriverR

“We regularly review our product strategy and will certainly give an update in the months to come. Till that time, we continue to produce Nano catering to customer demand in key markets,” the spokesperson said.

Now, that answers the question. Translate it to Nano will be produced for some more time but the entry level hatch back will be a new car.

[Moto$apien]

Nano Europa -> Pixel -> Mega Pixel ->Pelican .. all were steps in making the premium-entry hatchback (sorry for the oxymoron)











With the concept of lateral upgrades very relevant in terms of Indian buyers, people tend to upgrade to a second-hand premium car rather than a basic hatch.

The usual looking hatchback cannot cut the cheese in this segment. Some differentiation like the SUV Looks(a.ka. Kwid), 4-Wheel steering for nimble parking or affordable electric/hybrid power-train platform will hold the key.

Tata has burnt many fingers in re-vitalizing the Nano. I don't feel they should go below the Tiago price-point.

[silverado]

My idea of a Entry level hatchback would be 2 seater with a small seat for Kid and some space for luggage.If Tata can make that and market it properly like a smart car, they would create a new category of car which can serve well for small nuclear families which is the case nowadays.

This would also make case as a second car for some families.
Now if this is a 2 seater car, Tata can very much use Nano platform and convert this to a 2 box design which has better acceptance in our market as a car rather than unibox shape.

[JS Kwt]

Tata Motors Eyes Entry Hatchback Market Next; Considering Hyundai Santro Rival

Now Tata wants to consider the entry segment dominated by the likes of the Alto, Celerio, Kwid and Santro.

Guenter Butschek, CEO, Tata Motors agrees that the space holds potential. "There is still some market volume (in the segment) below the Tiago and Tigor, where we don't have a dominant play today - but where we would like to have a play" he says. Tata has already declared an intention to move to just two platforms for all its products - Alfa and Omega. While the latter will provide a base for larger models, the Alfa can operate in a wide range and therefore can spawn cars from about 3.6 metres to about 4 metres.

The real need for significant volumes though comes not only from Tata's search for regaining market share, but another big move Tata anticipates - the drive towards EVs or electric vehicles. Butschek says the segment is "Where we in particular see great opportunities for us as far as electrification and the concept of urban mobility is concerned."

Tata has already devised a plan to keep the production of its smaller upcoming Alfa-based cars at its Sanand unit in Gujarat. Butschek has told carandbike, "Sanand is designed to actually produce vehicles up to four metres roughly. And to actually bring - with a high degree of commonality on the architecture - additional models into Sanand. It's going to give me more than enough utilisation of the capacity."

Full Article

[nishsingh]

Originally Posted by JS Kwt

[center]
Tata Motors Eyes Entry Hatchback Market Next

That's some good news! Given Tata's (recent) focus on making 5 Star safety rated cars, an entry-level, small safe car would definitely excite me for city commutes.

Any idea where the concept image in your post is from? It looks lovely!

[JS Kwt]

Originally Posted by nishsingh

Any idea where the concept image in your post is from? It looks lovely!

It is the Tata Megapixel Concept also known internally as the Tata Pelican

Here are some images and links for reference.









Source
Link 1
Link 2

[JoshMachine]

Originally Posted by JS Kwt

It is the Tata Megapixel Concept also known internally as the Tata Pelican

Since Tata is officially discontinuing the Nano next month (related thread), the launch of the Pelican could well be regarded as the future electric version (one possibility) of the Nano, with few enhancements thrown in for good measure.

[sreedotk]

This post may be digressing from the subject of Tata's entry level hatch, but here is my thoughts on what Tata could do.

1. Design a Skateboard architecture where the floor is the battery and the body sits on top.
2. If the cost is too high for above to be designed exclusively for Tata , get into a strategic tie up with one of the boutique manufacturers to get access to tech, there should be options for this like Fiskers new company, Farady future, Rimac even talk to some China auto companies like BYD.
3. Keep it a scalable architecture and build a Small Foot Print, Medium Foot print car.( A Nano /A Tiago equivalent)
4. These cars can be the ideal City Runabout if they can seat 4 , have a driving range of 100-150 Kms/ Charge and are priced with a 10%-20% premium over Internal Combustion engine cars.

So a Nano equivalent starting at 4-5 Lakhs
or a Tiago Equivalent starting at 6 Lakhs


Why the above thoughts.

Most of the Electric cars that have been released or have been built on an existing platform including the newly showcased Altroz. This does not help in the practicality of the car as

1. the boot space get used for batteries
2. The car is heavier than a purpose built electric car.

Also the Altroz is going to be priced at a min of 10- 12 L that is right at the edge of affordability of 80 % of the car buying public who are going to only own one car.

Why only a city car-

Because we as a country will not have a fast charging network atleast for 5 -10 years and from a rudimentary guess estimate 60-70 % of personal cars rarely used mostly in the City.

[sub.g84]

Look at those doors. They give a lot of space for ingress and egress. It will make a lot of potential family buyers happy. I don't think the complete glass roof will make into production though. I particularly liked the S shaped tail lights in the Pixel more than the Mega Pixel. It looks more futuristic.

The Nano suffered from it's budget image(price tag, features and glaring lack of quality in fit and finish). Like it or not, many people don't like to have the 'budget' tag associated to cars they own. After all, cars in India are still considered as a luxury in many places. So, if this car is given a premium image to the market and not a budget image, it would surely see a lot of sales. Moreover, considering Tata's focus on safety of late, and if they keep it close to the concept and price it well, this could turn out to be a real crowd puller.

[DriveT]

TATA Motors may base the entry model on TATA CUBE concept earlier displayed at Mumbai. This image is also appearing in Rushlane article with following link..

https://www.rushlane.com/tata-small-...-12301791.html

[silverado]

Nano's failure must have been a big learning curve for Tata.
Tata this time will go the conventional 2-box front engine way, but should incorporate a lot of cost saving measures which they had used for Nano.

Is this going to be a 2 seater car? (as seen from C-Cube concept).
That way , TATA can make it safe as well as cheap.

[vaasscit]

Originally Posted by silverado

Is this going to be a 2 seater car? (as seen from C-Cube concept).

That way , TATA can make it safe as well as cheap.

Two seater car - I don't think there is market for that in India.
Even if it's there, TATA wouldn't do anything unconventional this time (Have burnt its hand with Nano)

I'm wondering what could be the possible power train option ? An downrated Engine from Tiago in its BS 6 avatar maybe ?

[silverado]

Originally Posted by vaasscit

Two seater car - I don't think there is market for that in India.
Even if it's there, TATA wouldn't do anything unconventional this time (Have burnt its hand with Nano)

I'm wondering what could be the possible power train option ? An downrated Engine from Tiago in its BS 6 avatar maybe ?

I agree.It was just wishfull thinking on my side.
Such cars could be a hit with ladies, or people who need a car for office commuting.

I feel TATA will use a lot of learnings from Nano to develop this car, and will surely stay away from Monobox shape and rear engine this time.As you say it would be a conventional design.

But time is ripe for a 2 seater car to be introduced in our Congested cities. There are growing nuclear families who can benefit from such cars IMO.