Tata Motors may soon produce world's cheapest hybrid

James Raia

nano2Tata Motors has garnered global attention via the Nano, the world’s cheapest car. It could be awhile, but Tata could surpass its current high plateau of notoriety if it follows up on a recent announcement the Indian manufacturer will produce the world’s cheapest hybrid vehicle.

There’s no catchy name or any other specifics, but Tata’s chairman, Ratan Tata, first mentioned his company would produce a hybrid version of the Nano in a recwent interview with a South Korean newspaper.

In a follow-up article on Reuters, the global news service, Tata said the proposed hybrid could spark a “low-price revolution that could continue across the world.”

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The Nano currently lists for about $2,500 and is only sold in India.

The Nano hybrid would likely cost more than the gasoline Nano, but in theory it could less nearly 10 times less the Toyota Prius, the world’s best-selling hybrid.

In the interview in the Maeil Business Newspaper, Tata said his company is “planning to produce hybrid versions of its Nano to join in the environment-friendly trend.”

After years of planning, promotion and delayed debut dates, the Nano was first delivered to auto dealers in July

Tata also said in the interviews his automotive group was interested in Vietnam and evaluating the U.S. market, where it hasn’t yet in invested. Automobiles, software, hotel businesses and the bio fuel industry are also being considered by Tata in Brazil and Argentina.

Article Last Updated: December 9, 2009.

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