Nano Nano yes papa...

Read some updates about the Nano today, including when bookings start, the various configurations the car is available in etc etc. You can find most information here.

What was more interesting were reactions from competitors. Small car makers trying to defend their brand / products denying the launch of Nano would affect their vehicle sales albeit they knew the dent in sales will eventually be visible.

Then there was the 2-wheeler brigade trying to tie up both ends on the premise that lower end bikers wont be able to afford it, while the higher end bikers would always have money for a better car.

I also heard from a news channel that our rural folks are pareshaan as the erstwhile dowry demands for bikes will now be replaced by ones for Nanos. Am sure the Tatas would not have thought this deep!

All in all, its quite evident that the industry, which was in an easy mode when the West Bengal episode happened, has now woken up to the sudden jolt [read nano] that is shaking up ground beneath their feet. And its only revolutions like these that truly redefine the direction in which the industry is moving.

To top it up, manufacturers have already announced their small car launches - including Honda [Jazz], Ford, Toyota, Fiat [Grande Punto/Bravo], Suzuki [Spalsh], Skoda [Polo]. Even Bajaj is planning an ultra-low cost car which it claims will run 30km per litre. Well, its surely gonna be shopping time for all those auto enthusiasts featuring the largest array of models India has ever witnessed!