Weeks After Ratan Tata’s Passing, Tata Nano Engulfed in Fire Reminding Us of Early Days Of Nano

Lately, several reports of vehicle fires have emerged from different parts of the country. There are various reasons why a vehicle might catch fire, which we’ll discuss later. Currently, we have a video from Kerala showing a Tata Nano car that caught fire while being driven on the road. The car had two occupants, who were fortunate enough to escape unharmed.

The video was shared by Mathrubhumi News on their YouTube channel. The incident was reported in Kozhikode district, Kerala. According to the report, the driver and passenger noticed smoke coming from the rear of the Tata Nano. They were forced to stop the vehicle to check the issue. As soon as they stopped, the smoke from the rear intensified, and the car quickly caught fire.

In the video, we can see the car completely engulfed in flames. Onlookers and the owner attempted to extinguish the fire, but it was futile. Although a fire brigade arrived in time, the hatchback was entirely destroyed by then. Fortunately, the occupants noticed the smoke early and stopped the vehicle in time.

Had they not stopped the car, there was a chance it could have caught fire while they were still inside, which would have been even more dangerous. In the past, there have been several cases where people got trapped in cars that caught fire, leading to injuries or even fatalities.

The Tata Nano was the brainchild of the late Mr. Ratan Tata, who envisioned it as an affordable car for Indian families. However, it did not perform well for various reasons. One of the major issues was poor marketing; it was launched as the “world’s cheapest car,” which many Indian buyers disliked, as they did not want their car to be labeled “cheap.”

Initially launched at ₹1 lakh, the Nano lacked features like power steering and power windows. Its small size also posed a challenge in a market like India. Although Tata Motors later introduced these missing features, by then the used car market had grown, allowing buyers to find larger, more spacious cars with better fit and finish at similar or lower prices than the Nano.

There were also some cases of Nano cars catching fire. While the exact cause was not determined, this too contributed to its decline in popularity. Although the Nano didn’t receive much recognition when it was available, many people still bought used models, including the Jayem Neo, an electric version of the Nano made for cab services.

Car Fires: Common Causes

There are several reasons why a car might catch fire. Often, people install aftermarket accessories that are not compatible with their vehicle. Many of these installations involve cutting wires, which can lead to issues by putting extra load on the wiring. This frequently causes short circuits, which can result in smoke and fire.

Another common reason is poor maintenance. Many people neglect the condition of their vehicles, which can also lead to fire hazards. Additionally, carrying fuel in plastic bottles inside cars has led to incidents when the cabin heats up. In this case, we don’t know the exact cause of fire and we are really happy that the occupants managed to escape on time.