India’s Tata Group has unveiled a 2,500-dollar car billed as the world’s cheapest amid predictions the no-frills compact could revolutionise how the nation of 1.1 billion people travels.
The launch of the Tata Nano was a landmark in the history of transportation…said 70-year-old tycoon Ratan Tata, head of the giant conglomerate. He said he wanted to make “a safe, affordable and all-weather transport — a people’s car, designed to meet all safety standards and emissions laws and accessible to all.”
The Nano has a small, rear-mounted 33bhp, 624cc engine but no air conditioning, electric windows or power steering in the basic model, although two deluxe versions will be available.
The critter gets 50mpg and is already front-crash test-certified.
Auto analysts say the Nano could also have a major impact on the way global car firms think about costs.
The Nano may “revolutionise car costs downward,” said Indian auto analyst Murad Ali Baig, adding it was bound to be followed by other low-cost cars.
So-called environmentalists who hate the Nano hate all cars already. So, dedicate your energies to providing viable mass transit. When and where possible. Please.
These critter will be replacing smog-generating used cars and 2-stroke motorbikes that have been all poor people can afford. It’s a net win-win.
Same goes for reviewers who need 400bhp and 35″ wheels wired to their gonads to feel like a man. These dudes don’t care about basic transportation for anyone else.
I know some commenters aren’t exactly world-class when it comes to understanding the demographics, commerce and almost everything else to do with nations more than more than 600 miles from a major American city. So, I’m not too surprised folks don’t recognize these cars will be replacing transport that “spews” more crap into the air than the replacement.
“Duh” is about the best I can lay upon their insight.
Meanwhile, the world’s response continues to knock Tata’s servers off the Web. 2 days after the intro, it’s still pretty much impossible to get to http://www.tatapeoplescar.com/
Americans are the largest pollutors in the world. Americans are the largest consumer of gasoline in the world. Americans make some of the worst cars in the world – Toyota is now the second largest auto maker in America and we buy millions of foreign cars – Japnese, German etc. each year. And we have the nerve to crticise others. Height of American hippocracy, arrogance and stupidity. The morons who crticise the idea of an inexpensive car/reliable transportation for the masses I ask, have you even lived/traveled outside your city, county or state?
This is for the Indian market after all. American spec cars must be much more crash resistant because of our 70mph highways and terrible drivers.
India produced an all-electric car awhile back with similar size and shape, but only with a 70km range. Good enough as a grocery getter but not enough oomph to take on a long trip.
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