10 Things You Should Know About the Tata Nano

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Sell the Nano in the West rather than in developing countries

{QUOTE}

The Nano is pretty green when it comes to fuel consumption. The car is certified by the Automotive Research Association of India as getting 56 miles to the gallon. That gives it not only the highest fuel rating of any other Indian petrol-powered car but also the lowest CO2 at 101 gm/km.

This doesn't mean the arrival of the Nano is green, though. Because it is so affordable, many environmentalists fear that it could double the amount of cars on already-crowded indian roads. According to the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, studies already show one person dies every hour in New Delhi from air pollution-related diseases.

{UNQUOTE}

Interesting comment with some truth in it. It is true that the world's eco problems aren't going to be solved by selling lots of eco friendly cars like the Nano in developing countries, although selling cars like the Nano there instead of gas guzzlers will help. The real problem with the Nano is that it is so cheap, and so the solution to that problem is easy - place a tax on cars in developing countries. The real solution to world eco problems however is not so much selling the Nano in developing countries, but to sell them in developed countries to replace the gas guzzlers that are the cause of the pollution. Again, this is easily achieved by taxing gas guzzlers out of existence. If selling the Nano in developed countries was encourages, the low price of the Nano would help here to reduce world pollution by tackling the problem at its source.

Summarizing, the solution to world eco problems is to sell the Nano in the West rather than in developing countries.

SMP @ Sep 07, 2009 07:23:53 AM

Re: Nano and Fred of CO

Adding a bit to the replay of Jayanto to Fred:

DO not worry, Fred, no one is selling you a Nano; so there is no shame anywhere to be seen in the US on this account.About GM and others in Detroit skimming off billions of US tax dollars, well, that is another story!

Tata Motors are over booked on Nano for years to come. The US model, when released, will be snapped up by a cash strapped consumer market, analysts predict.

By the way, Tata Motors are the current owners of British Layland and Jaguar. So, if you dont like the Nano, you can always buy a Rangerover or any of the Jaguar models at US $100,000 or more! It's a free market, some thing for everyone! And the Tatas know that very well. After all, they cast the first steel in their steel mill in 19007, more than 100 years ago!

M.R @ Sep 02, 2009 15:54:36 PM

Re: Nano and Fred of CO

Adding a bit to the replay of Jayanto to Fred:

DO not worry, Fred, no one is selling you a Nano; so there is no shame anywhere to be seen in the US on this account.About GM and others in Detroit skimming off billions of US tax dollars, well, that is another story!

Tata Motors are over booked on Nano for years to come. The US model, when released, will be snapped up by a cash strapped consumer market, analysts predict.

By the way, Tata Motors are the current owners of British Layland and Jaguar. So, if you dont like the Nano, you can always buy a Rangerover or any of the Jaguar models at US $100,000 or more! It's a free market, some thing for everyone! And the Tatas know that very well. After all, they cast the first steel in their steel mill in 19007, more than 100 years ago!

M.R @ Sep 02, 2009 15:54:27 PM

Canopied Scooters

It's sad that the Tata comes out for so cheap, but folks developing 3-wheeled canopied motorcyles/scooters are looking to charge $20k+ for them. They seem to be missing the point that the Tata is driving home; people want an around-the-town commuter (IE: not highway commuter) that's cheap, not expensive. I personally ride a 150cc scooter as my daily commuter, but I use my old 140k mile car if I need to hit the freeway or if it's raining. I'd gladly give up the car if I could get a canopied scooter that could do freeway reasonably well and was under $10k.

Blah Blah BlackSheep of TX @ Jul 20, 2009 13:01:50 PM

Energy independent

I drive a full size PU 6000 miles a year. I need it's size and power about 1000 of those miles. The Nano could be cheap/economical/green enough to justify a second vehicle. Tell me more.

Steve of CA @ Mar 28, 2009 18:47:13 PM

Reply to Fred of CO

Fred writes "We actually did have Tatas once. They were called "Yugo". Fool me once, shame on you..."

I really wish people would find out some information before they posted.

Yugo: Manufactured by a government owned Yugoslavian company.

Nano: Manufactured by a Tata company that survives in a free market without government bailouts. The Tata conglomerate has been making cars, steel, software etc. for over 100 years. Tata Consultancy Services is the world's largest software outsourcing provider.

Jayanta of NV @ Mar 27, 2009 02:01:45 AM

Blame Americans First

Sha Malik dictates that we should only be allowed to import "an electric" tata, with a 100 mile range, and 1-2 hour recharge, because apparently, everyone in the US has somehow sinned against the rest of the world.

Well, frankly, I would buy an electric Tata with a 100 mile range and 2 hour recharge if it went 60 MPH and had airbags a frame that would survive a crash, for under $10K.

One small problem ... the battery set alone would cost more than that, and it doesn't recharge in two hours.

But that won't stop folks like Sha from trying to tell us how to live.

We actually did have Tatas once. They were called "Yugo". Fool me once, shame on you...

fred of CO @ Mar 26, 2009 19:03:13 PM

Nano

The average American wants a safe vehicle that will not be destroyed upon impact. They want to keep their families alive. Hybrids/Nano's/Electric's will all be poor sellers.

Joe of GA of GA @ Mar 26, 2009 13:34:53 PM

Manual Only Nano

The only Nano that should be allowed in US should be Electric

model with 100 mile range & quick 1-2 hr recharge time. Leave

it to Tata to solve our transportion problem. "Bearing", "tyre",

etc. are all solveable by Tata I'm quite sure. Give them the

chance to save us & let us learn a lesson here. Results speak

volume, it's high time we nudge the "big 3" to reality.

Sha Malik of NY @ Mar 25, 2009 15:52:48 PM

Other considerations for a US Nano

There's a lot of conflicting data out there on the Nano, some coming from earlier releases touting different specs.

A US version will likely cost more than $4k for most buyers, who will want a radio, air conditioning and electric windows. It will also have to be brought up to DOT specs, with airbags, upgraded emissions, safety features and lighting, all of which will add a lot to the cost. Emissions controls may also hamper the performance of the engine. While current top speed is reportedly between 65-75mph, the wheel bearings will only handle 45mph. That's okay, because you wouldn't want to go much faster than that on 12" wheels anyway. You sure as heck wouldn't want to crash one at over 45mph.

I'm all for a small, cheap, high-MPG car, but most US consumers are still too spoiled to go for something this bare-boned unless the economy gets much worse than it is now over the next two years. Even then, the Nano's appeal will be limited to drivers who don't need to take the freeways—some urban commuters and drivers in small towns. That's possible; I live in L.A., ride a Vespa, and get everywhere on surface streets. But all it would take to make the Nano somewhat irrelevant to the US market would be another company introducing a safer, freeway-capable, high-MPG car with more features at around $10K or so. I suspect we'll see such a car, possibly from Tata or another Indian company, possibly from Europe.

Eric Almendral of CA @ Mar 25, 2009 13:18:43 PM

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Fresh Greens

Fresh Greens

Maura Judkis is a producer at U.S. News. She writes about the green movement and looks for ways to be an ecofriendly consumer without breaking the bank. Send her your green tips.

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