But, I beg to differ here with regards to criticisms meted out against Tata Nano from environmentalists, media people to anti-industrialization intellectuals. This is because Ratan Tata’s Nano is just not the car of Tata Motors, it’s a people’s car and quite importantly India will once again reiterate its stand as a power to recon with in the international arena with quality standards. The launch of Tata Nano calls for a celebration as it is going to make a paradigm shift in the auto industry.

Tata Nano is criticized on the grounds of consumerism and congesting of roads. Why can’t our anti-globalization leaders also take into account the benefits from trickle-down hypothesis? With the launch of Nano and its subsequent manufacturing, it will trigger demand and help create job opportunities for many especially in this time of recession. The job creation will not remain restricted to the auto industry, it will be created in infrastructure sector too as India will require more roads and flyovers.

Many speak of Nano adding to pollution. But then, do you know that Tata Motors’ Nano is Euro IV compliant and moreover aren’t there too many government buses running on the Indian roads in dilapidated condition adding fuel to further carbon-dioxide emissions? So, why blame Nano that is already complying with International pollution control norms.

Moreover why not appreciate that it will help realize the dreams of many in this land of billion populations. Tata Nano will help many to experience a four-wheeler ride for whom driving was a far cry as it is only riding.

So, if you are convinced of buying a Tata Nano, cough up Rs 70,000 as the advance booking which is scheduled to begin in April. The standard model of Tata Nano will be available at Rs. 1 lac while the other two variants is expected to be priced at Rs. 1.24 lacs and Rs.1.34 lacs.

Tata Nano booking- Where you can do?
State Bank of India has gone into an agreement with Tata Motors and it is expected that initially 100 branches of SBI will cater to Tata Nano booking besides the Tata Motors dealers. The online booking of Tata Nano is yet to take off.

Further reading on Tata Nano… check the links

http://topics-today.blogspot.com/2008/08/big-issue-for-small-car-in-west-bengal.html

http://topics-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/auto-expo-2008-peoples-car.html

It was Tata’s Nano launch that I wrote and it was Mr. Ratan Tata’s promise to make the cheapest car in the world hit the road by November 2008…and being a strong Kolkatan felt proud that this world’s popular auto project will be associated with Kolkata, to be precise with Singur.

Yes, it is in Singur, 40 kms from Kolkata that Tatas have invested worth Rs 1500 cr to build the automobile factory. The land acquired by the West Bengal Government was given in lease to the Tatas. The controversy spiraled with the West Bengal Government and the opposition party on this 1000 acres of land given as domestic investment to the Tata Group.

The opposition party proposes to ‘gherao the Singur Tata plant’ to protest against the injustice meted out to the farmers. They are of the opinion that out of 1000 acres of land, 400 acres need to be given back to the farmers. Thus the seed of industrialization sown in the soil of West Bengal met with strong protests from the opposition party members.

Who are at loss at this political crisis? The opposition leader will shout slogans saying through the blood of farmers industrialization of cultural Bengal cannot be achieved. But is this true? Is it not through investment in manufacturing industries that generation of employment is possible? Is it not through successful
implementation of this factory that we can attract further investments through channels of either domestic investment or foreign institutional investments ? Are we not closing doors for future growth of Bengal?

In the hands of opposition are the instruments of bandhs and strikes.. Be it upgradation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport or the growth of IT hub in Rajarhat, Kolkata. Are we conscious enough to know what lies behind this veil of controversies?

With project in Singur, which are the lands that they want back? Those that are meant for ancillary investment and moreover that 400 acres is not available together. These are pockets of lands spread all over.

Thus before the Tata really bid Ta-Ta to Bengal, its high time that we delve deep into this crisis to find an amicable solution through negotiation, re-negotiation and dialogues for a prosperous Bengal.

However, we also find the Renault-Nissan-Bajaj will also come up with a ultra low cost car at Rs 1.25 lakh.Their USP will be on higher mileage. Gordon Murray’s small car T25 seems not far behind. Even BMW who aims to top the Indian luxury car segment is doing a feasibilty study on a luxury small car. This in itself speaks a volume on the potential of small cars in the emerging market. with the developed countries already saturated & has a more strict carbon emission controls the MNCs’ is now vying at India on a large scale.

However with all these goodies, something that comes by natural is the concern on environment. With the people’s car there would be a price cut across automobile industry to make vehicles affordable to people. As a result streets will be over crowded, roads to be more congested & emission of pollution will be no less.Its a growing concern as people all around the world is propagating on Global warming. The concern is with such low price will these cars be able to maintain and sustain the pollution control standards. Keeping our fingers crossed we wait for the car to hit the road.

As the Indian economy is growing hot. the automobile industry is growing hotter !!

The increase in the consumerism can be felt when we see a growing number of shopping malls across the cities of India. These malls provide the people with all comforts-being a one stop shop for all goods to easy credit facilities with low interest & less documentation. Previously people went to a market place with different shops scattered in different directions. You needed to specify what you want to buy. Now customers have everything lying in front of them, packaged in most hygenic means, marketed in the minds through exclusive media interfaces. So you
might have gone to buy one thing but have ended up buing more than few. These shopping malls have also been a great help to the working women. To maintain a balance between work and home, hard pressed with time, shopping out in the mall on a weekend helps to run the family with much ease. Kids also find the places attractive, with escalators to go up & down, play area & rhymes CD to hear around. So Life made easier for a particular class of people. Yes, with
urban spending of Rs 10, it increase the rural income by Rs 40. This urban-rural linkage will be made more strong in the coming years with an upward surge in the retail industry.The increase in the consumer spending can also be attributed to the attitudes of this young people. As the saying goes “we wear our attitudes”- it is found that to be updated, contemporary & a willingness to change has become the order of the day. These young people do not mind in having more than one of the same gadgets. This is because they want to be updated, they want to be different & they have more choices in Life. This effect can be best described by the Mobile Handset Industry.This industry has been offering now and then with handsets targeted to different segments of its everincreasing customer base. With few changes, an updated version,added features and a multilayered promotional activities is bound to make a hit. This generation of today never minds to buy another one although the existing handset is doing good.So we are not surprised when we see there is a 50 percent plus growth in the gadget
market.

According to data from Economic Times investment in this retail sector is to be around $365 million in 2008. It is said that big players like Reliance, Aditya Birls Group, DLF and Spencer is expected to invest in Retail Business in 2008 an amount of $25-28 million.

However this segment is to face challenges too for its upward curve in the economy. Infrastructure, rising property price, multiple layers of tax, shortage of skilled manpower, lack of clear policy on FDI, underdeveloped supply chain to name the few.

Yet the India Inc to brave all these hurdles to be amongst the developed economy.