On this day in auto history – March 23rd

Tue 23rd Mar 2021

It was on this day in 2009 that India’s Tata Motors launched the vehicle which was supposed to herald a revolution of ultra-affordable cars for the masses - the Tata Nano.

Launched with an original price of just 100,000 rupees (around £1,400) under a strapline of “the world’s cheapest car", the Nano was conceived with the idea of making auto ownership affordable to the millions of India’s poor who traditionally used motorbikes.

Initial aspirations were for annual sales of 250,000 but Tata soon found that buyers were shunning the low-budget image of the vehicle which only came with a 35 bhp engine as standard.

Despite various makeovers, sales have chronically underachieved, yet Tata still refuse to pull the plug on the loss-making vehicle.

The tax values are provided by a third-party supplier and while every effort is made to ensure their accuracy please double check with your advisor. If the car was registered after 31/03/2017 then it is subject to new tax rules. All prices we display are for the cars second tax payment onwards. You can find out information on the cars first tax payment here

Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017

Rates for second tax payment onwards

Fuel type	Single 12 month payment	Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit	Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit	Single 6 month payment	Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel	£180	£180	£189	£99	£94.50
Electric	£0	N/A	N/A	£0	N/A
Alternative	£170	£170	£178.50	£93.50	£89.25

Alternative fuel vehicles include hybrids, bioethanol and liquid petroleum gas.

Vehicles with a list price of more than £40,000

You have to pay an extra £390 a year if you have a car with a ‘list price’ (the published price before any discounts) of more than £40,000. You do not have to pay this if you have a zero emission vehicle.

You only have to pay this rate for 5 years (from the second time the vehicle is taxed).

Check the list price with your dealer so you know how much vehicle tax you’ll have to pay.

Fuel type	Single 12 month payment	Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit	Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit	Single 6 month payment	Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel	£570	£570	£598.50	£313.50	£299.25
Alternative	£560	£560	£588	£308	£294