Tata Nano Goes to Detroit

Although some still consider the Tata Nano as being two small for such a big country, the Indian manufacturer and Tata Technologies (which, by the way, has a regional headquarters in Novi, Michigan) seem to think otherwise. Why else would they bring the Nano, in all its glory, to Detroit, for all to see starting January 14.

Now, we all know what all of you are wondering: would the Nano attend the 2010 North American International Auto Show? No, it won't. The Nano will be showcased at the Detroit Science Center, some few miles away from the Cobo Center.

The point of this "show-and-tell' exercise is to probe the Americans' reaction at the sight of the car. That's because the Nano will be heading for the US, in greater numbers, in an most three years, depending on how long it would take Tata to solve some minor compatibility issues.

"For the United States we need a car which has a larger engine and we need additional crash-test modifications and we are in the process of doing it," Ratan Tata said last June.

As for those who made Nano's presence in the US a reality, Tata Technologies, at probably the worst possible time (you know, with NAIAS running in the background and all...), they say they are behind some of Nano's greatest advancements.

“The innovative thinking that brought the Tata Nano to market is symbolic of what Tata Technologies has to offer the automotive industry,” Warren Harris, Tata Technologies’ President and COO said when announcing the arrival. “Tata Technologies was front-and-center in engineering and developing the Nano; working closely with Tata Motors and with a significant number of the Nano project suppliers.”