Often in a big way, think of Ford's Edsel for example and closer to home British Leyland's P76.

A more recent example would have to be Tata Motors, India's largest motor manufacturer, probably best known these days as the owner/builder of Jaguars/Rovers. No, don't panic right now, the Jags are still built at their factory in Coventry.

Tata Motors is a serious multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Mumbai India, with an income of $US 4 billion-plus, and 83,000 employees, so they're no minnow.

In 2018 Tata concluded that as living standards were rapidly rising, the population was ripe for the transition from their traditional transport, low powered motorcycles and tuk-tuks, to a low cost, no frills car.

In 2009 they launched the Tata Nano, often cited as the world's most affordable car. An initial price of $US1500 was the target, so it seemed like a no-brainer.

Projected annual sales was 250,000 units per annum, but keeping costs down was always going to be a problem to meet the low sticker price.

The engine was a quirky two cylinder 624cc all aluminium unit with Bosch fuel injection punching out 28kw, mounted in the rear and driving through a 4 speed manual.

Maximum speed was an optimistic 105 kph, going through the 0-60kph sprint in 30 sec! Two body versions were offered, a four door and a five door hatch weighing in at 600-635 kg respectively.

Overall length was a tad over three metres with a track 1.495 metre. So overall, a pretty small car, and a quantum leap up from the motorbike/scooter it intended replacing.

First nail in the Nano's coffin was the relocation of their 'new' plant, some 1000kms from West Bengal to another state.

Once production was underway, cost cutting was a driving force in keeping costs down. Early models featured access to the boot only being possible from inside the vehicle, consequently the engine, located under the trunk floor, was a trifle difficult.

A host of other cost savers greeted new owners. The Nano only had one windscreen wiper, no radio/CD player, no airbags, no air conditioning, three lug nuts per wheel, driver side rear view mirror only, identical front seats with integral headrests, no external fuel filler cap... the list of many basic features seems endless, even down to a skinny 135/70-R12 space saver spare tyre!

Couldn't get much worse?

In 2014 a Nano was crash tested for NCAP by ADAC in Germany, and despite Tata's claim that it was expecting 4 stars, it didn't even get to first base with a big fat zero!

Tata finally called it quits in May 2018, with the FY 2017-2018 building only just over 1500 examples being let loose on the public.

'Seemed like a good idea at the time!', may well have been its swan song moment.