In India, a $2,500 Pace Car

[varun]

Indians know how to save money...now they will lead the way in saving energy by building small cars.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/business/worldbusiness/12cars.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1192162820-XYZ54NDhDWf/8nT6mWF5oA

NEW DELHI, Oct. 11 — A revolution is taking place in India that could change what most of the world drives.

Next fall, the Indian automaker Tata Motors is scheduled to introduce its long-awaited People’s Car, with a sticker price of about $2,500. Hot on its tail may be as many as half a dozen new ultra-affordable vehicles — some from the world’s leading carmakers, including Toyota and Renault-Nissan.

With a median age of just under 25 and a rapidly expanding middle class, India will overtake China next year as the fastest-growing car market, according to estimates by CSM Worldwide, an auto industry forecasting service.

To tap that emerging market, automakers are starting to respond to Indians’ desire for small and cheap cars. As a result, car companies are coming up with new ways to develop and build automobiles worldwide...

[JI7]

1. don't most already drive those small Tata cars ?

are these supposed to be even smaller ? actually, i think most drive motorcyles. i mostly see the "normal" sized cars in places like Delhi when i visited early this year.

considering how dirty and polluted some of the country is, it's good news either way.

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. More cars are not the answer.

Sure, here in SoCal, amazing things would happen to the air and to the wallets if folks just replaced whatever they are driving now with Smart Cars. But a few more commuter trains and some more stops would be even better. The nearest station is 1/4 of my commute away. The nearest station to my work is also 1/4 of the commute away to that. Bus service is spotty, and would require transfers. Just gotta drive.

[TygrBright]

3. "Tata" Motors? May I suggest a logo...? Or perhaps not.

The ol' nudge-nudge wink-wink might be getting a bit, er... played out.

puckishly,
Bright