People’s Car. Is this a good thing? - January 2nd, 2008
The people’s car is generating a lot of buzz right now. No — not the Volkswagen. How very WWII of you. I mean the People’s Car that Tata Motors is getting ready to unleash on the world at a price of 100,000 rupees — $2,500 USD. It’s going to be the cheapest . . . er, most economical automobile in the world. Specs are a little sketchy, but it looks like we’re talking about a four-door, five-passenger on a par with the Japanese Maruti. It goes on display January 10 at Delhi’s Auto Expo and is set to make a splash at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
That smells like a little foreplay to plunk the as yet officially un-named cheapster on the European market. The company says no test drives in Delhi, but there’s no word on whether Tata will be kinder to show goers in Geneva. The company is also studying whether or not to consider Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and even Italy as potential markets because they’re like India.
Okay, sorry, but ouch! I don’t think many countries like being compared to a nation with a real population problem, even more serious poverty issues, and growing environmental concerns. This thing is starting to remind me of that $200 laptop. Do we really want a proliferation of the cheapest car in the world in already badly overcrowded countries? There hasn’t been word one about any “green” credentials for the People’s Car and all I’m seeing are more combustion engines in the hands of the masses.
Posted on January 2nd, 2008 by Shorty
Filed under: buzz |
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