say Tata to the remaining oil supply...

[dysfunctional press]

even tho' it gets 50mpg-when a WHOLE BUNCHES of indians start buying and driving them, they're going to be needing A LOT more petroleum than they currently use. and then they plan to go international as well...and although the article says that it meets emission and safety standards- i'm guessing that they aren't all that stringent of standards.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011161870100.htm

Tata unveils world’s cheapest car

NEW DELHI: Keeping his promise, made four years ago, to deliver a “people’s car,” Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata unveiled on Thursday the Rs.1-lakh car christened ‘Nano.’

The world’s cheapest car from the Tata Motors stable comes with a rear mounted all-aluminium two-cylinder 623 cc petrol engine, promises a mileage of 20 km per litre, and meets all emission and safety standards.

“The vision was to give the people of India a car which is not produced anywhere else in the world. Through Nano, which denotes high technology and small size, I have tried to provide a reliable mode of transport to every Indian family,” Mr. Tata told an overflowing press conference attended by Indian as well as international media at the inaugural day of the Auto Expo 2008 here.

To be formally launched in the second half of this year from its upcoming plant at Singur in West Bengal, the car will initially have three variants — standard and two luxury models...

[HeraldSquare212]

1. Yup, and say goodbye to climate

So this is something that is sort of the crux of the dispute between developing and developed nations. Why can't we just give Tata a hundred dollars per car to bulk up the emissions equipment? Even if it costs us a few billion, it's still better than having to undo damage later.

[SoCalDem]

2. I watched the head of GM giving a news conference in India

He bragged his head off about the $750 MILLION dollar "investment" they were planning for India..and all the JOBS it would bring..and STATE OF THE ART auto manufacturing...for cars that would see for under $5K USD..and would get 50mpg..

I bet Flint Michigan was overjoyed when they heard about it :grr:

[dysfunctional press]

3. i don't think too many americans would even pay 3k for this thing...

the engine is a 33hp two-banger...not much bigger than some riding mowers.

it makes the yugo look like a corvette in comparison.

[avaistheone1]

4. No worries. Tata is coming out with one that runs on compressed air.

[Ilsa]

5. I'd love to have the one that runs on compressed air to run around town in. Now

if I could get the rest of this over-sized city to scale down their transportation.