I have always thought that Indian
Cars would be sell well in the Philippines if ever they entered the
Market. Their cars are rugged and durable. Mahindras, Hindustan
Motors, Tata and Maruti/Suzuki have built a reputation for simplicity
and quality. While their styling is YMMV*,
I personally like the way they are styled.
Indians are also technically
proficient. A quick look at their internet fora and the number of
car programs as seen on youtube shows that the Indian is a discerning
motorist. I also suspect that the road conditions in India are so
much worse than in the Philippines that a car built for India would
have no trouble negotiating the potholes and floods of Manila and the
dirt and mud of the Provinces.
This brings us to Tata Motors.
The first Indian car manufacturer**
to sell its vehicles in the mass market. It is poised to capture a
significant share of the Philippine market and possibly pave the way
for other Indian manufacturers.
The Top Gear Philippines website confirms the entry of Tata into the Philippines and lists down the
confirmed models that will make it in the Philippines. As listed in
their As listed in their website:
“The
first car is the Tata
Manza,
a four-door subcompact sedan that's about the size of the Toyota
Vios. In India, the Manza is equipped with either a diesel or
gasoline engine, but Pilipinas Taj will bring in the petrol version,
which has a 1.4-liter four-cylinder motor that produces 89hp and
116Nm. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
“The
second model is the Tata
Sumo Gold,
a '90s Pajero-looking SUV that's almost as long as the Mitsubishi
ASX. Only the 4x2 variant will be brought in initially. It is powered
in India by either a 3.0-liter CR4 turbodiesel rated at 84hp and
250Nm, or a 3.0-liter Di turbodiesel rated at 69hp and 223Nm.
Obviously, we hope that it's the former that will be sold here.
“The
third vehicle is the Tata
Vista,
a small hatchback that's slightly longer than a Kia Picanto. The
Vista is available in India with three diesel engines and one
gasoline motor. We're getting the lone petrol powerplant, a 1.2-liter
four-cylinder unit worth 64hp and 96Nm. Like the Manza, this variant
comes with a five-speed manual gearbox.
“The
fourth model is the Tata
Xenon XT,
a compact pickup that's a bit shorter than (but just as wide as) the
Isuzu D-Max. Fans of off-road driving will be relieved to know that
both the 4x2 and 4x4 variants will be launched in our market. This
workhorse is propelled by a 2.2-liter CRDi turbodiesel that churns
out 138hp and 320Nm, and equipped with a five-speed manual
transmission.
“So,
which Tata model can you picture parked in your garage this year?”
Absent from this list is the Tata
Nano. The world's most affordable car. The
absence is disheartening because I personally want to own a Tata
Nano. I think that this is a great car. It is innovative; striking
appearance and it carries with it a bold statement.
It
is innovative because it needs to be cheap. It has to be built with
as few parts as possible with many parts having to share multiple
functions. Its lightwight, economical and surprisingly safe. It
comes in a mid-engined rear wheel drive layout. This is a very
sporty layout because most supercars are built using this layout. I
suspect that is has superb handling characteristics which make it a
joy to drive.
Just see the following documentary to learn about the development and manufacture of the Nano.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
It
has a striking appearance. Well, just look at it. It looks like
Pikachu.
I find it cute.
It
carries with it a bold statement. I like to compare it to the Classic Volkswagen Beetle. It is slightly alternative—hippie even.
It seems to tell the world that you don't need an expensive car to
be happy and satisfied with what you drive. In this way, it compares
with the Classic Fiat 500. I suspect that as the years go by, the
car will develop a cult following, much like the Beetle.
I
think that it will be a big hit here in the Philippines and that Tata
should consider bringing it in the market as soon as they can.
I
disagree with the article of Tessa Salazar in the Inquirer which argues that the Nano will
not sell in the Philippines because it seats only four people and
that Pinoys tend to buy AUVs because they can bring entire families
with them on their trips. I disagree because the author assumes that
the Nano will be bought by single car families. For this type of
buyer, the natural choice would be an AUV because the whole family
would need to fit. But I think that the Nano would appeal to
multiple car families: Specifically to yuppies and to college
students. It will become popular transport for those who use cars to
go to work daily. It may become popular as a “coding car.” Yes,
it is true that the Nano is supposed to be a pang-masa
car, but its future
may lie with the affluent customer, who needs a spare car.
Aside
from the affluent, the Nano might become popular as a fleet vehicle
and as a taxicab. The Suzuki Alto (which is related to the Indian
Maruti Alto) has proven to be popular as a fleet vehicle, as a taxi
and as personal transport, the Nano may also become popular in a
similar role.
Related Posts:
Mahindra Coming to the Philippines: Its the Invasion from the Subcontinent
Related Posts:
Mahindra Coming to the Philippines: Its the Invasion from the Subcontinent
Please
bring the Nano to the Philippines.
**Land
Rover and Jaguar do not count. They may be Indian owned, but they
are still the embodiment of the “Euro car.” Suzuki/Maruti does
not count either because it is marketed as a Japanese brand.
