A month after its first international launch in Sri Lanka, Tata Motors launched Nano, the world’s cheapest car, in Nepal on Sunday. However with customs duty and taxes as high as 240 pc, the car available as cheap as Rs 1.51 lakh in Mumbai will be available for Rs 5 lakh (nearly NRs 8 lakh) in the Himalayan nation.
It would still be much cheaper than its nearest competitor—Maruti 800, which costs NRs 14 lakh.
With the Nano available in Sri Lanka for as less as Rs 3.80 lakh (LKR 9.25 lakh)—the one available in Nepal would be the costliest model of the car in the sub-continent yet.
Encouraged by the response generated by two Nanos traversing over 6,000 kms across Nepal in the past three weeks, company officials feels the car’s potential here is limitless.
“Nano will provide freedom and empowerment for people in Nepal caught between inadequate public transport and expensive private vehicles,” said Johnny Oommen, Head (International Business) of Tata Motors.
He added the company had already received 5,000 inquiries and looks to customers from all sectors including two-wheeler owners, young professionals, small families and those seeking a second car.
In Nepal, Nano would be distributed by Sipradi Trading, the country’s second largest private sector company which has been selling Tata vehicles (both commercial and passenger) since 1975.
“The car has all the requisites needed to suit Nepali customers and hence it should be able to make its mark here,” said Siddhartha SJB Rana of Sipradi Trading Private Limited.
Bookings for the car that began on Sunday will be open for 10 days and Tata Motors has tied up with 10 banks to provide loans on easy EMIs to customers.
0 comments:
Speak up your mind
Tell us what you're thinking... !