Let's do a quick recap - the Nano is sold in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Pakistan and Bangladesh are due to receive it shortly. Taiwanese company TECO has shown interest in selling a slightly modified Nano in their country. A Nano EV has been shown in the concept form, while the mash-up of the Pixel and Europa concepts is the future Nano for Europeans.
Like India many countries do not subscribe to the idea of allowing imported goods to have a free run. A local industry protecting duty structure always make them look worthless.
The Nano, designed to provide an all weather form of transportation with the lowest possible procuring and running cost, won't look attractive when the price is drive up by 300% even with the help of a Lamborghini-like rear air intake and bean shaped outline.
The only way to counter-attack this problem is assembling the cars at strategic locations to lower the duties. Tata Motors has said that SAARC, ASEAN and Latin American regions are important markets for the Nano where assembly lines could be setup.
Tata will send the Nano out in the CBU form and based on the image the Nano paints, it will study the option of assembling the vehicle in these markets.
[Source - ZigWheels.com]
