Nissan Working on Tata Nano Rival

Tata Nano

A somewhat disturbing news surfaced today about Japanese manufacturer Nissan working on a Tata Nano challenger (if such a thing is even possible). Not quite up Nissan's alley, we might say, but the carmaker is reportedly getting ready to release the car, built on the so called V platform, as soon as next March in not so demanding markets like Thailand, India, and China. Europe and the US are also on the agenda, but not sooner than 2011, as Vincent Cobee, responsible for the V platform said in Mumbai.

To make the car cheap, Nissan will keep the weight down and manufacturer over 90 percent of parts in local facilities. According to drive.com.au, the new car will use 18 percent less parts than found in Nissan's compacts.

Nissan has big plans for the yet unnamed car, with speculation pointing to no less than 1 million units to be sold by 2013. The future car will come in several body styles, starting with a hatchback in 2010 and followed by sedan and a compact MPV. So far, it is unclear what the price tag on the V will be.

As for Tata, the maker of the cheapest car in the world (Nano) and owner of some of the most desired (Jaguar and Land Rover). the Indian carmaker is contemplating making the Nano platform available for others as well.

According to vice chairman Ravi Kant speaking for Business Standard, Tata may set up assembly sites across India to build 10,000 Nanos year.

"We call it Nano, they don't have to," Kant was quoted as saying by the source.