Tata (India Car Maker) wants to roll out Nano with Proton

12 March 2011 - Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is on an official visit to India, has revealed that Indian carmaker, Tata Motors, which makes the world's cheapest car, Nano, has expressed interest to enter the Malaysian market by working with Proton.

Tata Motors surprised the world in 2009 when its engineers rolled out the cheapest four-seater car, priced at one lakh or 100,000 Indian rupees (about RM7,000), which was termed the "people's car".

“Mr Tata (Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group) is keen to work with Proton again. About seven or eight years ago there were some joint discussions to manufacture cars but nothing came out of it. Now our automotive policy is more liberal and there are new opportunities,” Muhyiddin said.

The suggestion emerged after Ratan, chairman of Tata Group, one of India's most respected industrialist met Muhyiddin, currently on an official visit to three Indian cities.

“It’s now up to the Proton management to study this proposal and whether a car like the Nano can be brought into Malaysia. Perhaps we can also come up with a kereta rakyat costing about RM20,000, modelled after the Nano,” the DPM suggested to Malaysian journalists in Mumbai.

“He felt there should be some synergy because they had been in the automotive industry for a long time. He can bring his technical team to discuss with Proton or Perodua,” added Muhyiddin, although we’re not sure if Perodua, which is part owned by Daihatsu and has its own compact car plans, will be interested in such a development.