How hard would it be to buy a TATA and bring it over to the US?

[Analog]

The Tata Nano, known as the world's cheapest car, is about to undergo a price hike.
Tata Motors is contacting customers on a waiting list for the car to tell them the car will be priced 3% to 4% higher than it's original asking price of 100,000 rupees, which is about $2,100 in today's foreign exchange rates, according to several reports in Indian newspapers.
Customers who have left deposits and are waiting for a car will still get the original price, the company said.
The car celebrated its one-year anniversary on Saturday. As the world's cheapest car, intended to replace motorcycles on Indian roads, there were hopes that it would be a big seller. But so far only 45,000 have been sold in a country with over 1 billion people.
Ford sells that many F-150s in a month.
Tata Motors says sales should go up this year, since it has recently opened another plant and will be able to satisfy orders more easily.

Tato Nano Europa - Click above for a photo gallery
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Americans may have the opportunity to welcome the Tata Nano to their shores in just over two years, according to a confirmation from David Good, a U.S. rep for the Indian automaker. Before it arrives, Tata assures that the ultra-cheap compact with a base price of just $2500 will be configured to meet all emission and crash standards. If successful, we could see see versions of the Indian microcars running on biofuel and diesel.

 

[Kadarin]

Relatively easily, as it's just a matter of buying the car and shipping it over. However, if you want to legally drive the thing on public US roads, that's an entirely different matter.

 

[highland145]

Mail order bride. 2 for one.

 

[Anubis]

it would have to meet all US safety and emissions standards and then you got a mountain of forms to fill out and you have to pay a chunk of money

 

[Schadenfroh]

Not sure if it meets Federal and/or State safety and environmental regulations (ie street legal). It might not even like the fuel we use over here (ie the engine might not be able to handle the additives and/or grade). A $2,100 new car would be very popular here, especially if the fuel economy is awesome. That care looks like ass, but there are plenty of expensive cars on the road that also look like ass.

I do hope to see a Tata dealership eventually, but I imagine that protectionist sentiment will keep such imports away for a while.

 

[Ika]

I'd rather buy an ATAT and bring it over to the US.

 

[summit]

just buy a f-350.

 

[Anubis]

I'd rather buy an ATAT and bring it over to the US.

Where would you park it?

 

[ElFenix]

Where would you park it?

whereever the hell you want, it's an ATAT. make your own parking.

 

[highland145]

whereever the hell you want, it's an ATAT. make your own parking.

lol

 

[waggy]

I'd rather buy an ATAT and bring it over to the US.

thats what i first thought when i read the topic.

 

[flexy]

Here you go Sir,

that would be $5000 shipping cost.

[...]

..and why does this thing totally look like a smart and the logo looks like a fake toyota?

 

[flexy]

That care looks like ass, but there are plenty of expensive cars on the road that also look like ass.

Might be. For me it looks like about 70% of what we drive here in EU anyway. Most cars here look like ass, with some exceptions like Smart Roadster etc

Ok..it gets a little complicated here:

http://greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/tata-nano-india-photo-diagram.jpg

It doesnt have airbags, safety beams, emission controls.... simply making this car "legal" in western countries would probably triple the price.

 

[zoiks]

It doesnt have airbags, safety beams, emission controls.... simply making this car "legal" in western countries would probably triple the price.

And then it just might go up in flames in the end.

 

[mmntech]

With taxes, freight, and surcharges, plus the stuff flexy mentioned, guaranteed it won't sell for $2,100 here. The most comparable care to it, the Smart Fortwo, is about $13,000. I'd like to know what exactly has been sacrificed to get it down that cheap. Might as well just buy a motorbike.

I can't see it winning over American consumers either. The Smart is also another good example of that.

 

[PricklyPete]

Why the hell would you want to?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why the hell would you want to?

Agreed. That thing is ugly as sin.

 

[zCypher]

Here you go Sir,

that would be $5000 shipping cost.

[...]

..and why does this thing totally look like a smart and the logo looks like a fake toyota?

mwaahaha!

 

[Analog]

Agreed. That thing is ugly as sin.

its cuuuuute!

 

[InflatableBuddha]

0-60 in 21 seconds?

I can ride my fucking bicycle faster than that. It's one thing to have a cheap, well made, safe and efficient hatchback/city car. This is not it.

I would much rather have this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Aygo

 

[Evadman]

I would much rather have this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Aygo

That car is $10,464 not $2100. You could have 5 TATA's for that price.

 

[PottedMeat]

$2100??? I bet that's cheaper than a single replacement amusement park bumpercar.

~10 of these in an arena, modified for safety would make an interesting ride.

 

[lxskllr]

I'd buy it assuming the gas mileage was decent. I don't care what my vehicle looks like. It's just a tool, not a personality extension.

 

[Lean L]

I'd buy it assuming the gas mileage was decent. I don't care what my vehicle looks like. It's just a tool, not a personality extension.

you also don't care that if you crash in that you face a greater chance of mortality?

 

[lxskllr]

you also don't care that if you crash in that you face a greater chance of mortality?

No. Those kind of arguments are retarded. If you want to be safe, stay in the house. Where's the threshold for a "safe" car? Motorcycle, TATA, CrownVic, Suburban, H1, Tank? It's a dangerous world. You just gotta go out and take your chances.