Little Cars, Big Impact?

The Nano car. Photo: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/code_martial/2199226416/"> Tahir Hashmi (flickr)</a>
The Nano car. Photo: Tahir Hashmi (flickr)

The world’s cheapest car has just been rolled onto the showroom floor in India. Known informally as the People's Car, Indian automaker Tata Motors stated that its goal was to give access to people who otherwise could only afford to drive scooters by selling a car that cost only $2,500, reports Nation Public Radio.

"I observed families riding on two-wheelers — the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family," Company Chairman, Ratan N. Tata said.”

The car is said to meet all safety and environmental requirements for India, with reasonably low emissions and a solid gas mileage of 50mpg. However, an October report by The New York Times cites worries about the safety and environmental implications of a car with no airbags that will be accessible to millions of first-time drivers. Pollution and traffic are already big issues in the country, where “nearly 60 percent of India’s cities have pollution levels that are considered critical.”

Is it possible to create an ultra-cheap green car, one that will meet the strictest fuel emission standards with the potential to actually reduce pollution levels?

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West Bengal factory work halted

Violent protests from locals have resulted in suspended production at one of Tata's car factories. Local farmers who rely on the land for food and income are at odds with the company, who has responded with plans to seek alternative locations for manufacturing.

A company spokesman has said, "there is no way this plant could operate efficiently unless the environment became congenial and supportive of the project," an "environment" which also includes the support of farmers who own the land.

The incident reflects the larger conflict between India's increase in industrialization and land rights for farmers.

As it turns out, "the People's Car" may not benefit all the people.

in jeddeh saudi arabia

is there any sponser for tatta motors in lebanon mideleast

just i want to ask if there any sponsor for nano cars in Lebanon middle east

or can you give any contact number for the company in India

in Portland, OR

You can find contact

You can find contact information on Tata's website: http://www.tatamotors.com/.

Great Effect

Observers say this "Nano effect" will prove crucial in India, a market where a consumer can easily dwell on a potential car purchase for a year. The IMA system is designed to boost performance, cut fuel consumption and slash emissions.

Small but terrible

Small cars got cool fuel system that some people like. They can have good fuel mileage. They also run fast. Maintenance are not the high.

50mpg is really great but not

50mpg is really great but not feeling safe while driving in heavy traffic is not. I don't think US car dealers will start importing the Tata vehicles until they do some serious overhauling on their safety systems (add airbags etc.)

There is a high trend

There is a high trend regarding small, fuel efficient cars these days and i like the concept, but i wouldn't buy a car which haven't got through any crash test and it has no airbags. Safety matters the most and in this case the car provides poor protection for its passengers. In a perfect world where no one drives at high speed and accidents never take place it would fit well, but otherwise i can't stop myself thinking about the consequences of driving it. Few safety adjustments would make it almost perfect.

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