Tata’s Nano began a revolution. A revolution that by no means actually took off, nevertheless it was a revolution all the identical. The dream, because it have been, was to offer mobility and safety to a category of two-wheeler house owners on the lookout for an improve. And reality be informed, the ultimate product delivered on many ranges. It was inexpensive, it was spacious, it protected its occupants from the weather, the aircon labored and it was even form of comfy to sit down in. Still it wasn’t a hit. Production delays, politics, advertising messaging, enemy motion… or a mixture of all drove the lovable little car right into a nook. And then there have been the will increase in materials prices and the necessity to add extra gear to make it acceptable. 

However, a giant purpose Nano didn’t join with house owners was operating prices. The leap from two-wheeler operating prices to that of the Nano was too huge, from roughly 65kpl to round 17kpl. And then there was the truth that the Nano sat on the backside of the pyramid, the place most first-time patrons are on the lookout for a ‘safe’ guess, not an unknown and unconventional resolution. 

Things, nevertheless, are very completely different at the moment. The Nano is a well known amount, the excessive operating prices of a petroleum may be changed by the subterranean house charging prices of an EV and with the worth of automotive lithium-ion batteries prone to settle at round USD 160 per kWh, we might see a shift from petrol hatchbacks to small EVs. The factor is, how a lot under the worth of Tata’s Tiago EV can carmakers go? The key query, after all, is simply how a lot demand exists, at what value level, and importantly for what kind of car. 

While Maruti and Hyundai have stayed away from this unknown nook of the market, for now, MG Motor has proven enormous dedication. And what’s clear is that the Comet is a really completely different car. A two-door to start with – which modifications the equation – it’s extra comfort-oriented and well-equipped than sensible. It has one thing of an upmarket really feel and, in contrast to the Nano, will make house owners be ok with driving it. What’s clear is that MG is concentrating on two car households, and there’s little doubt that the Comet would make a handy and cost-effective second car. But simply what number of will chew? Will Indian car patrons evolve quick sufficient? And can MG inject sufficient cool? 

It’s time we advanced and lowered our footprint. Around 85 p.c of all journeys inside cities are carried out by only a single driver. Modern pods may be half the scale of an everyday four-and-a-half-metre car, two pods can park in a single area and trendy variations can have higher efficiency and significantly better security. Just have a look at Gordon Murray’s T-27. Sure, that’s an excessive instance that can want heavy modification and even heavier cost-cutting for the idea to work right here, however as the person stated, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” And what’s clear is that the age of the pods is all however upon us. Wouldn’t each two-wheeler commuter need one? Time for one more Maini Reva?

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