It is alright to make a car, but there should not be any compromise on basic safety and quality. Toyota is paying a heavy price for brushing under the carpet safety related issues and may have lost its market leadership status forever. Built on the promise of a no nonsence quality value for money premise, Toyota has been on a downward spiral since the news of its sudden accelaration problems started hitting the newschannels.
The original peoples car was the wonderful Volkswagon Beetle. The car was an engineering marvel, an epitome of German technology. I can vouch for it because I drove one for 2o years. The car was strong as an ox and efficient as a beever. That is also why the car, manufactured first during WW II, lasted seven decades with minimum changes.
Tata Nano is touted as the modern people's car. The ultimate aspirational product for the teeming lower middle class at an affordable price of Rs 1 lakh plus taxes. But there is a worry that not all is quite so right with Tata Nano. Electrical short circuits, wires melting and other issues have plagued the car from day one. These were pooh-poohed as teething problems. But now, during the third week of March 2010, disaster struck.
A family of husband, wife and 5 year old son were driving home a brand new Nano from the showroom and ecstatic about it when the car burst into flames (see picture above). Fortunately, the family escaped unhurt but has vowed never to buy another car in their life. All Tata offered to do was to either replace the car or give a refund - but what about the compensation for the trauma suffered by the family? Tata is silent on this and has treated the whole issue in a cavalier fashion, quite unbecoming of a Brand known for its customer care. The link below gives the whole story, including the bland letter from Tata and I am sure you would share my outrage at the way the company has treated such a serious incident. Why is it that, in India, people have to die before someone sits up and takes notice of things?Tata is lucky that this happened in India or else they would have had to pay multi million dollar damages.
The whole story in the words of the customer plus the atrocious response from Tata can be found in the link http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/mar/250310-santosh-purushottam-sawant-tata-nano-fire-mulund.htm
Is Tata falling into the trap of 'chalta hai' attitude of Indians?
