​Diesel-driven Tata Nano is now a distant dream

With refinement of engine playing hurdle, Tata Motors is scrapping the plan to introduce diesel powered Tata Nano anytime soon. As per a news report by The Economic Times, the company, which is launching the GenX Nano soon with newer cosmetic changes, had developed a 2-cylinder 800 cc diesel engine that was also aimed at powering the small car. However, for the time being they won’t be implementing the same.

"The reason is that as we stand now, refinement is a challenge and what refinement can be given on this kind of a car (Nano) won't be acceptable to the Indian customer," Tata Motors Senior Vice President (Programme, Planning & Project Management, Passenger Vehicles) Girish Wagh told news agency PTI.

"Economics is also a challenge... When diesel price comes to its natural level, all the price advantage will go. Although it has higher fuel efficiency, meeting higher emission norms in diesel is more costly... Therefore, below a particular price level, diesel making economic sense both for the customer and the OEM is very difficult," Wagh added.

When asked if the company has completely given up on a diesel Nano, Wagh said: "We continue to work on it. We don't rule out any possibility but currently the refinement and economics for both the customer and the OEM is a challenge."

In order to revive the fortunes of what Ratan Tata called 'People's Car', Tata Motors is all set to unveil its new avatar, GenX Nano, positioning it as an aspirational vehicle, the financial daily confirmed.

(Image: India Times)