Worlds Cheapest Car
Tata unveils world's cheapest car By GAVIN RABINOWITZ, Associated Press Writer
41 minutes ago
NEW DELHI - India's Tata Motors on Thursday unveiled the world's cheapest car, bringing new mobility within the reach of tens of millions of people and nightmares to environmentalists, traffic engineers and safety advocates.
Company Chairman Ratan Tata, introducing the Nano - price tag $2,500 - during India's main auto show, drove onto a stage in a white version of the tiny four-door subcompact, his head nearly scraping the roof.
With a snub nose and a sloping roof, it can fit five people - if they squeeze. And the basic version is spare: there's no radio, no passenger-side mirror and only one windshield wiper. If you want air conditioning to cope with India's brutal summers, you need to get the deluxe version.
But it's cheap. The Nano's closest competitor here is the Maruti 800, a four-door that sells for nearly twice as much.
Tata, however, is targeting people moving up from the lower ends of India's transportation spectrum, where two-wheeled scooters selling for as little as $900 are often crammed with entire families.
While the price has created a buzz, critics say the Nano could lead to possibly millions more automobiles hitting already clogged Indian roads, adding to mounting air and noise pollution problems. Others have said Tata will have to sacrifice quality and safety standards to meet the target price.
The chairman, though, insists the car will meet safety standards and pollute even less than motorcycles, passing domestic and European emission standards and averaging about 50 miles per gallon. Girish Wagh, who headed the design team, said it had an oxidation catalytic convertor and it emitted 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.
Chief U.N. climate scientist Rajendra Pachauri, who shared last year's Nobel Peace Prize, said last month that "I am having nightmares" about the prospect of the low-cost car.
"Dr. Pachauri need not have nightmares," Ratan Tata said at the unveiling. "For us it's a milestone and I hope we can make a contribution to the country."
The basic model will sell for 100,000 rupees, but analysts estimate that customers could pay 20 percent to 30 percent more than that to cover taxes, delivery and other charges.
Tata has long promised that he'd create a 100,000-rupee car, a vow that was much-derided in the global industry but created a frenzy in India. On Thursday, nearly every media outlet in India focused on the live unveiling.
"A promise is a promise," Tata told the crowd.
The car has seat belts, but no air bags. The Nano is about 10 feet long, 5 feet wide. The 2-cylinder petrol engine delivers 33 horsepower and a top speed of just over 60 mph.
Ford's Model T, which debuted in 1909 for $825, had a 4-cylinder, 20 horsepower engine with a top speed of 45 mph. The Model T had fuel economy between 13 to 21 miles per gallon.
Tata has said they expect the car to revolutionize the auto industry, and analysts believe the Nano may force other manufacturers to lower their own pricing. French auto maker Renault SA and its Japanese partner, Nissan Motor Co., are trying to determine if they can sell a compact car for less than $3,000.
For now, the car will be sold only in India, but Tata eventually hopes to export it. The Nano could become the basis for other similar super-cheap models in developing markets around the world.
As rising middle class incomes drive demand for cars in India, automakers expect the ranks of car owners in the country to expand dramatically in coming years.
But for some, a huge influx of cars is a terrifying prospect of traffic jams at midnight, hours-long commutes and increasing pollution.
"If you're talking about urban environment, it will cause serious problems," said Jamie Leather, a transport specialist with the Asian Development Bank. "It's a major concern."
In 2005, Indian vehicles released 219 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.
By 2035, that number is projected to increase to 1,467 million tons, due largely to the expanding middle-class and the expected rise of low-cost cars, according to the Asian Development Bank.
"The cheaper and cheaper vehicles become, the quicker those pollution levels will increase," Leather said.
41 minutes ago
NEW DELHI - India's Tata Motors on Thursday unveiled the world's cheapest car, bringing new mobility within the reach of tens of millions of people and nightmares to environmentalists, traffic engineers and safety advocates.
Company Chairman Ratan Tata, introducing the Nano - price tag $2,500 - during India's main auto show, drove onto a stage in a white version of the tiny four-door subcompact, his head nearly scraping the roof.
With a snub nose and a sloping roof, it can fit five people - if they squeeze. And the basic version is spare: there's no radio, no passenger-side mirror and only one windshield wiper. If you want air conditioning to cope with India's brutal summers, you need to get the deluxe version.
But it's cheap. The Nano's closest competitor here is the Maruti 800, a four-door that sells for nearly twice as much.
Tata, however, is targeting people moving up from the lower ends of India's transportation spectrum, where two-wheeled scooters selling for as little as $900 are often crammed with entire families.
While the price has created a buzz, critics say the Nano could lead to possibly millions more automobiles hitting already clogged Indian roads, adding to mounting air and noise pollution problems. Others have said Tata will have to sacrifice quality and safety standards to meet the target price.
The chairman, though, insists the car will meet safety standards and pollute even less than motorcycles, passing domestic and European emission standards and averaging about 50 miles per gallon. Girish Wagh, who headed the design team, said it had an oxidation catalytic convertor and it emitted 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.
Chief U.N. climate scientist Rajendra Pachauri, who shared last year's Nobel Peace Prize, said last month that "I am having nightmares" about the prospect of the low-cost car.
"Dr. Pachauri need not have nightmares," Ratan Tata said at the unveiling. "For us it's a milestone and I hope we can make a contribution to the country."
The basic model will sell for 100,000 rupees, but analysts estimate that customers could pay 20 percent to 30 percent more than that to cover taxes, delivery and other charges.
Tata has long promised that he'd create a 100,000-rupee car, a vow that was much-derided in the global industry but created a frenzy in India. On Thursday, nearly every media outlet in India focused on the live unveiling.
"A promise is a promise," Tata told the crowd.
The car has seat belts, but no air bags. The Nano is about 10 feet long, 5 feet wide. The 2-cylinder petrol engine delivers 33 horsepower and a top speed of just over 60 mph.
Ford's Model T, which debuted in 1909 for $825, had a 4-cylinder, 20 horsepower engine with a top speed of 45 mph. The Model T had fuel economy between 13 to 21 miles per gallon.
Tata has said they expect the car to revolutionize the auto industry, and analysts believe the Nano may force other manufacturers to lower their own pricing. French auto maker Renault SA and its Japanese partner, Nissan Motor Co., are trying to determine if they can sell a compact car for less than $3,000.
For now, the car will be sold only in India, but Tata eventually hopes to export it. The Nano could become the basis for other similar super-cheap models in developing markets around the world.
As rising middle class incomes drive demand for cars in India, automakers expect the ranks of car owners in the country to expand dramatically in coming years.
But for some, a huge influx of cars is a terrifying prospect of traffic jams at midnight, hours-long commutes and increasing pollution.
"If you're talking about urban environment, it will cause serious problems," said Jamie Leather, a transport specialist with the Asian Development Bank. "It's a major concern."
In 2005, Indian vehicles released 219 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.
By 2035, that number is projected to increase to 1,467 million tons, due largely to the expanding middle-class and the expected rise of low-cost cars, according to the Asian Development Bank.
"The cheaper and cheaper vehicles become, the quicker those pollution levels will increase," Leather said.
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I want a universal one with a blade attachment to mow the yard. Lawnmowers cost more than it. 0 -
Might be an example of you get what you pay for! I'll stick with my John Deere Lawn Tractor. 0 -
What can it do in the 1/4 mile?[8D] 0 -
I'd take one- but only if I will be driving where a semi won't crush me. 0 -
I'd love to see it go 60 MPH and get 50 MPG with 5 people crammed inside. Not likely. 0 -
Actually, I remember in '65 when the new Mustang was introduced at $2,500. 0 -
I wish they would come out with a small pickup. I bought a NEW 1971 Datsun pickup one year old in the year 1972. I paid $2150. for it. It had a bunch of hard trapline miles on it when sold seven years later. Wish I still had it! [:(] 0 -
For that price you could afford two of 'em.
Think about it, a prand new pair of Tata's for five grand?
Seems like a deal to me.0 -
But I dont have any rupees. 0 -
i bought a yugo once for 25 bucks, cost me more than i paid for it to license it, drove it for one summer till the engine blew, it was actually a blast to drive 0 -
the price of gas just went up cuz of that thing 0 -
There is also a concept one of these that runs on compressed air. No petrol. Not as cheap but close. 0 -
I can see the vanity plates if I got one of those "MY BIG". As in "MY BIG" TA TA[:D].
Reminds me of a golf carts. It'll be good for short hops around town where the speed limit is 35 MPH. I recon at 75 MPH as they claim it can do would shake something fierce. I can almost hear Scotty in the background "Captain she can't take much more of this"[:D].0 -
Never thought I'd say this, but I'm just not a Tata guy. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
What can it do in the 1/4 mile?[8D]
Uh I don't know...what's today?[/ [:D]
I just think about what a mess one's gonna be when it's tree hugging inattentive driver, on the phone to their local Democratic action group crosses the centerline ito a water truck weiging about 73,280....0 -
Plink,
I have paid almost that much for a friend to have a pair of new Tatas!0 -
But do you remember the Yugo's of years back? They were not much better and did not stay around.
Moose0 -
quote:Originally posted by moose56
But do you remember the Yugo's of years back? They were not much better and did not stay around.
Moose
I always wanted to get 7 Yugos in different colors: one for every day of the week.0 -
looks like it would be good for a few laughs. 0 -
You could buy 4 or 5 of those for the price of some of the lawn mowers I sell!!
Mike0 -
quote:Originally posted by cbxjeff
Plink,
I have paid almost that much for a friend to have a pair of new Tatas!
Well, did you get to take 'em for a spin?0 -
AH, just wait for the Chinese to offer their version. What with slave labor and all that, I'll bet they can sell their version for a thousand bucks. Should be good for about three trips to town!! Tom 0 -
All things considered. I think my Gremlin was the worlds cheapest car. 0 -
Put a big ole lift and some big ole mudders on that Tata![:D] 0 -
looks a fun car to drive[;)] 0
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