Nano to cost Rs 4.5 lakh in Nepal

Tata Nano,the world's cheapest car,is set to start its international journey,beginning with Nepal next month.

Tata Nano,the world’s cheapest car,is set to start its international journey,beginning with Nepal next month. However,it will come at a much higher price tag of Nepali Rupees (NPR) 7 lakh (about Rs 4.5 lakh) when it hits the Himalayan kingdom.

Shambhu Prasad Dahal,the Chief Executive Officer of Sipradi Trading,Tata Motors’ distributor in Nepal,said the company will import a first lot of five Nano cars for a pilot run by July-end.

He,however,said the price of Nano will be much higher than it is in India because of the 300 per cent customs duty.

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Due to the high customs levied on vehicles in Nepal,the price of a Nano will touch NPR 700,000,Dahal said.

When contacted,a Tata Motors spokesperson said it is premature to talk about exports as “the company is yet to announce countries and timeframe”,although it has stated in the past that the Nano would be marketed in other relevant countries.

Dahal,however,said Sipradi has so far received inquiries from 1,000 customers for the Nano and “we are planning to sell it at NPR 650,000.”

In Nepal,Maruti Suzuki’s M800 is so far the cheapest brand of car,costing around NPR one million.