It’s nothing new that cars in demand can command substantial premiums. But it’s hard to equate a Ferrari or even a Corvette with a Tata Nano. But it now appears the world’s cheapest car is in such demand, secondhand buyers are paying as much as a 30 percent premium to own one of the vehicles Tata Motors, the manufacturer, describes as the “people’s car.”
That’s a far higher percentage than premiums for Ferrari, Corvette and likely any other car.
Several top-of-the-industry publications’ web sites, including Motor Trend and Drive are reporting the alarming statistics.
The demand for the Nano, which costs an estimated $2,500 (depending upon the exchange of the rupee) is due to simple supply and demand — and greed.
India had a lottery system for the first 100,000 Tata Nanos distributed to dealers, not all of which will be delivered to customers until the end of 2010. Estimates vary, but there were at least 100,000 willing potential buyers for the first allotment of the car.
But Arif Fazulbhoy, a car salesman in Mumbai, India, said in an article in Drive that wealthy people in the country have a “fetish” with the Nano.
“They tend to be very rich people who want the Nano for the snob value because it’s new in the market.” Fazulbhoy said.
The most in demand Nano model is the XL, which has features like air conditioning and central locking.
The 30 percent market premium for the Tata Nano, by the way, is slightly more than $800 — about six months of wages for the average Indian worker.
Article Last Updated: January 15, 2010.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
This article seems to be one of – ENVY. Where does greed come into the equation? The Tata Nano is a stellar revolutionary car, just like any other product which is leading the pack in innovation and ingenuity. It's in high demand- not because of greed. It's called capitalism and a vibrant democratic India. Silly article.