Tata Nano meets MIRA European crash test

Tata Motors has taken another step towards introducing the Tata Nano small in the European market. The latest news coming in is that the world’s cheapest car has passed some of the European crash tests.

We do not know much about the various European crash tests and the rules. So what you are reading here is just a distilled version of whatever we managed to find about the crash tests on the Net. Just saving you the bother of searching for it yourself!

Tata Nano Europa photo

The safety tests which the Tata Nano passed were the 40 per cent off-set crash test at a speed of 56 kmph, as well as a side impact test.

The crash tests of the Nano were undertaken at the MIRA crash test facility supervised by an inspector from the British Vehicle Certification Authority.

Tata Motors has plans to introduce the car in Europe, as well as several countries in Africa. We have heard of plans for South America too.

Introducing the car in the United States may be very difficult, though, due to very high crash test and safety standards. Europe, on the other hand, is no stranger to small cars.

There are more tests to go in Europe, though. The one we have heard about so far is the most important NCAP safety test. That is yet to come.

The Nano car which was tested this time was the Indian Nano, but with some modifications such as the addition of a driver-side airbag,and included some strengthening as well.

The car which Tata plans to introduce in Europe is the so-called Tata Nano Europa which we talked about in the past. At that time, it was revealed that the Nano Europa The Tata Nano Europa is 3.29 metres in length and 1.58 metres in width. A 3-cylinder brushed aluminum engine, electric power steering, and leather seats  were the other features planned. We can safely add an airbag too to that list, I guess!

However, the fact remains that there are no Nano cars sold to buyers in India so far, the primary market for the car. We all know about the delays due to the Singur agitation. Last we heard, the cars would reach buyers in India in September 2009.