Introducing the Tata Nano, the Cheapest Car on the Planet

I completly agree with you.The problem is we don’t practice what we preach.Every informed person on this planet is an environmentalist but ask for his/her real initiative,there is nothing to show but zilch.It’s a fact that none of the developing countries figure in even top 30 when it comes to per capita CO2 emissions and municipal waste.Isn’t it a high time we set same standards and let those deserving countries follow the path taken by countries “already there”.I mean we share same DNA traits.

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CGabriel – the question is, what is enough. We all want comfort and safety, but both – a small car and large car will bring you to the place you want to go. I agree, the quality of the drive is different if you own a comfortable car.
Also safety is often an illusion if you speak about cars – surviving a car crash is more luck than anything else.

Owning a big(er) car is a question of ego. I just recently sold my Ford Focus and bought a smaller car. My ego tried to convince me that I’m a looser because I can’t afford a decent car. And all my friends drive cool and fancy cars. Hm.

We are all so spoiled and don’t want to give away some of our fancy “toys”. I just hope one day it will be to late, and at that point these toys won’t help us survive.

Your happiness and wellbeing does not depend on what you own and how comfortable you live.

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Thanks Adam for clarifying. I need to tell you that where ever you read the this news, it was misinterpreted. Allow me to explain. Tata’s went to a few state governments for land and West Bengal government offered a good deal.

Tata’s and the Government also traded the land from the Farmers by paying them a fixed premium over amount of money and every farmer had in fact sold their lands to the WB govt.

The news that Tata’s are setting up Nano factory lead to increase in the price of the land. It is exactly after this the real drama started when the opposition {Thrinamool Congress Party} stared an agitation. A few farmers who were greedy went to opposition to help set up agitation to force govt. to pay them more money or return the land.

The opposition sniffed that this may lead to popularity and vote bank politics. Tata’s and the government then offered truce by hiking the price a little, which did not satisfy or where ignored by the agitating party.

Then on, it was a bloody battle which ended when Tata’s left for Sanand, Gujarat. It was not Tata’s fault.

The irony is that this episode still dodges Tata Motors, and it is pitty to know that now some one has sued Mr. Tata for launching the car before elections, giving boost to Narendra Modi of Gujarat for General elections which start from 10th April.

It is utter dirty politics.

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Adam, I agree with you that opinions are just personal and cannot be forced up on. The Safety features were not present in the earlier cars and were incorporated after they were subsequently invented. Safety features like Air bags and ABS were incorporated in luxury vehicles first when they were invented. It was adapted to lower grades after they were made compulsory.

It is just time, may be two years down the line a Nano will just sport all these. It is a beginning of a revolution in the way the cars are cost manufactured. A lot more technological inventions needs to be done to make this cost effective and even more fool proof. And I agree with all that this car will do pollute the environment.

However, the effect will not be much. The design of Nano leaves every one wanting for one, the rich, the middle class and lower class alike. The rich are planning to just replace their costlier and more polluting cars for Nano as their City commute and use their costlier cars for weekend trips. Nano is more of a status symbol in India right now and if you are driving a Nano, it is not embarrassing. This is exactly where the change would be, and a justification to my claim that Nano would pollute, but not much.

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