Tata Motors Unveils Ultracheap $2,500 Car in India

[Hum]

NEW DELHI ? India's Tata Motors on Thursday unveiled its much anticipated $2,500 car, an ultracheap price tag that suddenly brings car ownership into the reach of tens of millions of people across the world.

While the price has created a buzz, critics say the vehicle, called the Tata Nano, will lead to millions more cars 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.

Company Chairman Ratan Tata has said the car will be the least polluting car on the Indian roads and meet necessary safety standards.

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.

While introducing the car at an auto show in New Delhi, Tata said the Nano had passed emission standards and would average about 50 miles per gallon.

"Dr. Pachauri need not have nightmares," Tata said.

Dealers will sell the car for 100,000 rupees ? $2,500 ? but customers will pay slightly more than that due to taxes and other charges.

source

[TruckWEB]

From the picture. that car seems to be smaller (or about the same) size as the Toyota Yaris.

What did they NOT include in this car to sell it for $2,500? No radio, no A/C, no spare tire, .... ??

My God, the metal work on the car must be paper thin.... I can't imagine someone surviving in a crash....

[VGVL]

What did they NOT include in this car to sell it for $2,500? No radio, no A/C, no spare tire, .... ??

My God, the metal work on the car must be paper thin.... I can't imagine someone surviving in a crash....

It's still better than a scooter.

[Wannes]

It's still better than a scooter.

Could be but not guaranteed. I see them both as unsafe and this is a car, therefore it can go faster. Crashing at higher speeds then again causes more damage.

The car's materials won't be satisfying I guess, they can't be. If you hit a wall with this car you're just "buried alive" under a coat of metal. This whole car will fold up like a can of tuna.

Ah well, I'm waiting to see the footage and results of the dummy crash tests.

[GNRambo]

Could be but not guaranteed. I see them both as unsafe and this is a car, therefore it can go faster. Crashing at higher speeds then again causes more damage.

The car's materials won't be satisfying I guess, they can't be. If you hit a wall with this car you're just "buried alive" under a coat of metal. This whole car will fold up like a can of tuna.

Ah well, I'm waiting to see the footage and results of the dummy crash tests.

Have you been to India? not a lot of speed on the roads since its so congested.

[Wannes]

Yes I have and I know but does that mean that there won't be no crashes? And even if there are no crashes, if this car is succesful you can be assured it will go international.

[TruckWEB]

if this car is succesful you can be assured it will go international.

Well, they better sell it under another brand name here in Quebec (anywhere that speak French!), because here, "Tata" is French for "Stupid" or something like that.... :D

Then again, with all the monster SUV here, and the speeding.... You would have to be "Tata" to buy this car... :) :D

Only the little Smart can live here, and it cost ALOT more than $2K....

[Lexcyn]

From the picture. that car seems to be smaller (or about the same) size as the Toyota Yaris.

What did they NOT include in this car to sell it for $2,500? No radio, no A/C, no spare tire, .... ??

My God, the metal work on the car must be paper thin.... I can't imagine someone surviving in a crash....

It actually looks surprisingly like a Yaris (I own one). I would buy one of these, though. Haha. I like it.

[guru]

here is another pic of the car.

and the interiors

[TheElite]

12"/13" rims?

[shockz]

Instead of fog lights and rims... maybe they could have put in a radio or a/c instead.

[guru]

12"/13" rims?

dont know.

Instead of fog lights and rims... maybe they could have put in a radio or a/c instead.

there are 2 variants with ac

[sundayx Veteran]

Tata nano? How about the iTata.

[Knife Party]

lol -- its only got 33 BHP... 0-60 ~ sorry 60 cant be reached :laugh:

[guru]

http://www.tatapeoplescar.com/tatamotors/

the cars totally customizable. click the design your car link.

[Biotoxic_hazard_835]

Looks like a cross between one of those push cars for babies and a lawnmower :laugh:

Bio

[NienorGT]

is it really better to get a new cheap ass car like that or getting a used car that at least not look like a $10 toy.

[Hum]

here is another pic of the car.

Thanks for the pic guru.

It looks like a squashed Ford Focus. :p

Edited January 11, 2008 by Hum

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

India's Tata Motors on Thursday unveiled its much anticipated $2,500 car, an ultracheap price tag that suddenly brings car ownership into the reach of tens of millions of people across the world.

It is a good car and there's certainly a market for it in Asia and Africa, possibly South America too. I doubt we will ever see it in Europe or North America thou.

As for safety, most of the time if you drive in New Dehli or Mumbai, you are stuck in traffic. It is definitely a lot safer than a scooter or a bike. When I was in China, I used to see 3-5 people riding on the same bike without helments! Totally unsafe.

My only concern is the emission. With this car becoming available and affordable to so many people, I'm sure Tata will produce it in large quantities.

[red.]

My only concern is the emission. With this car becoming available and affordable to so many people, I'm sure Tata will produce it in large quantities.

Yeah that's what i was thinking. Now that cars can be easily available it will cause more congestion and pollution.

[peacemf]

lol

wow, its like a three wheeler with an extra wheel! :)

soon these guys will buy jag and land rover....

tata range rover :( lol.........lets see what the southern asians bring to the table in a lux market full of germans and lexus

[gaurav]

How does it even manage not to topple over with those wheels?

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

How does it even manage not to topple over with those wheels?

Why woudl it? Look at how long the wheel base is.

[Wannes]

Why woudl it? Look at how long the wheel base is.

I wouldn't turn faster than 10mph though. :p

[tiagosilva29]

I heard about this last night, while watching the news.

They said it could never be sold in Europe because it didn't had airbags and other stuff.