I would say this car is an excellent construction for a country witch is in the industrial development. I think it is only a revolution for the India carmarket but this car isn´t a serious competition for the established producers of cars like BMW, Dodge and so on because this car hasn´t safety fe

Martin, Dresden, Germany

The Nano is nothing for europe, because it is very small, has no thunk and is too low featured.
For india it may be the right car to allow millions of people an individual form of transport, but if most indian people are able to buy a car in the city's will always be traffic jam and smog.

Stephan, Dresden, Germany

The Tata Nano is a nice low budget car. A few advantages are the low emissions, the low fuel consumption and first of all the small price.
The biggest disadvantage is the sparely interior.
This comment is written from perception of an European, but it's a good car for an upcoming country like India.
I would buy the Vauxhall Calibra 2.0i 16v for this money.

Christoph Wislicenus, Dresden, Germany

Is it necessary to provide cars for everyone while the majority is still looking for hut to live in? Also the line of communication for the main traffic is going to be more overstrained then else times in the past. This point lacks heaps of money to extend the infrastructure over there. But nevertheless it matches with our zeitgeist and furthermore it is a concept which came up by a much underestimated nation.

Kathleen, Dresden, Germany

Is it necessary to provide cars for everyone while the majority is still looking for hut to live in? Also the line of communication for the main traffic is going to be more overstrained then else times in the past. This point lacks heaps of money to extend the infrastructure over there. But nevertheless it matches with our zeitgeist and furthermore it is a concept which came up by a much underestimated nation.

Kathleen, Dresden,

Nano! Nano! This has to be a world beater, I want one, or maybe two! The UK is always behind when it comes to technology and India is showing the way forward with its new compressed air car. Come on world! buy India, cheap does not mean pore quality, it just means the rest of the motor trade wont make as much money. I bet when these cars come to the UK the government will try to hipe the price with taxes as usual, gready lot!

David, Colne, UK

Unless the piece on Fifth Gear was very misleading, it must be made of little more substance than tin-foil!

S. Barraclough, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire

AND TATA will soon produce the French designed compressed air car which emits zero pollution, has a range of 125 miles before a compressed air refill is needed, and because the compressed air powering the car is so cold leaving the carbon fiber tanks, they use it to provide air conditioning, a real blessing in all of the tropics. It needs no gasoline and uses vegetable oil to lubricate the interior of the motor, so India will save immense amounts money for its people by not having to rely on imported oil. Look up "compressed air cars " on Google. I understand that Mexico City has already ordered 44,000 compressed air car to replace it's fleet of taxis. With the compressed air car we can save the planet and bring down big oil as well as totally breaking Arab political power over the west. War in the mid-east.? Who cares if we don't need their oil. Bravo TATA!

victor compton, Cherbourg, France

amazing achievement kudos to tata and the bright indians.

ariana , bracknell, uk

Would love to import this car to UK. TATA NANO makes Indians PROUD!!!!

ANUSHKA KUMAR, bracknell, uk

A challenge well met and a milestone created in the glorious history of TATA!! Your deliverables have always exceeded expectations when in right hands, so please keep this up!

I feel great to hail from a country where TATA lives...

Sudeepto, Dublin, Ireland

India has thrown a challenge to every nation with the Nano. It's a shame that corruption prevents many of our leaders in Africa from developing our auto industry. Let them learn what it means to be masses focused from Tata.
One advice. In good time the Nano will get to Africa where our tourism attraction is our bad roads. Tata must therefore endeavour to make the African Nano as strong as a Rhino.
A.BALOGUN
NIGERIA

A,BALOGUN, FCT, Nigeria

Nice Car!!! I want one!!! Just think of the possibilities!!!

http://www.trickmytata.com

Mark, Baton Rouge, LA

Yes , Tata Nano has arrived..to end all speculation, debate and worries.
They have survived a lot of hardships and created the small car as promised
Let us join hands with TATA in this celebration!!!

Hats Off to You Tata and the entire Tata Family!

Shafeek, Kannur, Kerala

We need this car here NOW!
Not everyone can afford $20-50K for a new car. Instead of buying a used automobile that gets poor gas mileage and probably needs some sort of repairs, for $2,200 - $2,500 we could have a "NEW" CAR, that gets 50mpg!

Restrict them from the Interstates!!
But get them here NOW!!

Ed, Walker, La.

The car has been produced on the back of the forcible acquisition of the land for the car plant, which gave a living to 20,000 people, and the death of eight farmers including the rape and murder of a 16 year old girl. So much for civilized progress!

Don Blackburn, Hull, UK

I feel that the "third world" is entitled to pollute the planet, its up to us to stop we have had our fun in cars etc, also if we spent half of the total european and us defense budget for one year on developing alternative fuels we could probably carry on driving with no worries

Don, Taunton, Somerset

The Tata Industries was founded by Jamsetji Tata in late 19th century When he first applied for a licence , the then Chief Commissioner for Indian Railways, Frederick Upcott said “Why, I will undertake to eat every pound of steel rail they succeed in making.” Tata launched their Indica car in 1998 and which are competing well against Hundai, Suzuki and Fiat. Tata cars have a good following in South Africa. Having used their numerous product and services I can say that when Tata’s do something they do it well. Tata Nano is no exception. This one is going to revolutionise the global car industry. I have admired Tata’s from my childhood. I often wondered why I did not see this name in UK or USA more often. Well, looks like I will not have to wait for long.

Amulya Chaturvedi, Hull , UK

The Nano is aimed at providing better transport for Indian lifestyle. Hats off to TATA. people who talk about environment should first look for more alarming pollutants like industrial wastes.Also people in India don't drive big vehicles to pollute like in the west. While most people in the west appreciate this, it's still sad to see some are cheap,greedy and selfish.

arun, dublin, ireland

its about time the truth was told about "global warming"its just an excuse to increase taxes and restrict the use of cars and restrict the movement of the populus.

John Harris, worcester, england

I want one !!!!!!!
The heck with the big old cars and trucks. The new beetle was a cool looking car but it had a lot of flaws, More that I would like to count. But they had power to sell it here in the USA.
For that price I actualy could afford the car and just maybe we could lower the gas prices with this Lil Micro car. Sorry NANO car.

Walter, Garner , NC. USA

Talking about being “green”, take a look at the MDI Air Powered car, it runs on compressed air, you can fill the air tanks from any Air hose that you would fill your tires up with and has zero pollution! I don’t think the US will take this as an option as I cant see people being happy with the price of air going from 50c for 3 minutes usage to $3.50 ha ha ha think about it!

Terry, Vincennes, IN

All you environment geeks if you are so passionate abt the planet why not go n ban the F-150s or all the supercars and 4x4. they arent kinder to the environment n burn fuel at an alarming rate. surely they cause a lot more co2 per ton than the nano's 50mpg tag.

when the US aint bothered abt their carbon footprint n their share for the melting glaziers and the ozone hole why should this side of the atlantic or the other side of the pacific be held responsible for the environment.

Lazz, Norwich,

excellent car, sadly it does not meet USA emission standards so i will doubtfully be able to own one unless tata ups their emisions control on the car, and to all of you, whining about the US, if WE must do somthing about pollution...how come we have less pollution in the USA than in the UK? at any rate, the tata nano sounds like an excelent car and hope they do somthing better for emisions so it can be imported to the states. bravo on a reasonably "green" vehicle

Seth, perrinton, MI, USA

EXCELENT ,TOTALY EXCELENT, please when will these cars be available in UK and how much.
Will definitely buy one
AS FOR FRIENDS OF THE EARTH ............ EAT MORE COWS
( it is well known they produce more gas than a Million of these superb cars)

James Mcintosh, bexleyheath, UK

Yes this is what we need all right, another billion cars on the planet, even if they do 100 mpg, its a step closer to economic and climatic disaster.

$100 oil already, and the best suggestion is that Indians need to buy more gasoline powered cars. While Europe and other parts of the West (including the US, sometimes when it suits them) are making some efforts to reduce emissions (albeit at a very late stage, after a two centuries of uncontrolled industrialised pollultion), not Asia and Africa have decided that they are going to negate that effort and bring the global pollution levels back up to where they were.

Will the Tata corporation be there to help negate the effect of environmental catastrophe on India when the droughts, floods and the economic costs of global climate change destroy the sub continent ?

This is teh motoring equivalent of taking up smoking while everyone else is trying to quit.

Carbon tax in the west, new cars for everyone in the East....think about it...

Sean O'Brien, Dublin, Ireland

To all the so called SAVE THE PLANET GEEKS,,,,,
What is the point in your wineing about this lovely little car.
1. it does 50mpg the planets resources will go further.
2. it must meet emission standards.
3. it will cut the top speed of those who use it as it it is not capeable of more than 65mph. qed safer roads.
4. it uses less oil to produce smaller tyres rather than larger ones.
All points worth noting when considering the enviroment.

as a british citizen living in the UK I am not going to even consider doing anything for the planet until the USA wake up and reralise that they are the worlds biggest polluters why should I make a 1 percent difference when americans are running air con in their homes tearing down trees to build their homes, dumping their domestic rubbish at sea, etc, etc,etc. all of this pollution and the activists can't see a little hope in the production of such a wonderful little vechicle let alone the affordability.

Nigel, Kettering. Northants UK., UK

Hi,
it sounds good to hear that tata has lunched a car for the people of india and that to for common man, thanks to tata moters and for a cheep rate of 1lack only. i to can have a car here after.
click here to know more about the <a href="http://tatanano2008.blogspot.com/">TATA NANO</a>

Bhanu, HYD, India

Let us replace all of the flimsy auto-rickshaws with Tata Nano.
Auto Rickshaw costs almost one lakh (new one). Make them bright yellow like Yellow Cab for safety. The cities will look nice.

Nevathitha, Dallas, USA

Mmmm interesting, I haven't seen the car but never say never! Most Europeans and Americans 20 years ago would never have worn Bindis, chappals, sarees, kurtis, kuta suits, salwar kameez suits, mehndi, eat spicy food, know who Shilpa Shetty is etc etc... but now Madonna her friends do, hey all these things that are 1000's of years old are now in fashion and all the rage!

Shalini, London, UK

It seems that its just a beginning from India, these sort of small cars should be encouraged thus could reduce the traffic hindrances, since every part of the world are facing traffic probelms which are at its peak...

Jamal, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Different geographic regions must adapt to their own surroundings. This little Tata Nanu may have a successfull supply and demand in other third world countries. It's hard to determine if there will be a demand for the Tata Nanu in the US. Since it travels 55mph to 65 mph, teenagers and elderly drivers may be the best candidates to promote safety on the road with a Tata Nanu. Since there is no radio in the Tata Nanu, there will be less distractions for teenage drivers. In other words, if you are a parent of a teenager that wants to drive a car, the Tata Nanu is your cheapest option. Good Luck!

Ava, Long Beach, CA

for DougW,
US car safety standards are higher than Europes. But thats because Americans cant seem to avoid plowing their SUVs into each other at 100 mph. You NEED that kind of safety. Others dont. The Nano is not meant for US roads.

Tuxpad, London, UK

We do not need another billion people fogging up earths atmosphere with effluents.....
Better they could find another form of propulsion....there are other alternatives......could they power this vehicle with other sources later?
perhaps battery power?

bert, enderby, canada

Not all Americans, like myself, would bash this little car. Unlike most, I can see both sides of the story.

Unfortunately, this little car will probably NEVER make it to the USA simply because the American automobile manufacturers would lose too much money, which is turn would hurt the oil companies, who are buddies with the automotive manufacturers, and so forth.

For India, a country with such a huge population and the lack of any decent public transportation, this little car will be a luxury for those who can afford it.

50 MPG? Where can I get one? Americans cars used to get 40+ MPG back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. (I had an 86 Nissan 720 5 spd 4x2 pickup that got almost 58 mpg) Now? You're lucky if you get 20, yet the vehicles now weigh less, are safer and supposedly have better engines. Sometimes I'm very ashamed to be an American...

Ronin, New Orleans, USA

Keep this car where it is. We don`t need anymore foreign cars around here. We have enough here putting our cars munufactures to close their doors to our workers. So just keep your little car if that is you want it called right where it is.(((WE DON`TNEED IT HERE.)))))

Don Koch, Lake Ozark, USA/Mo.

things are changing very rapidly than the world could imagine. there are people who have stuff. country and all those does not even come to picture when u r inventing something.

Thimiri, regensburg, Germany

.......pity all the Americans commenting on this story don't think more about the Environment.???
I guess that as the UK is poor we might get this car to buy, ??

Steve , UK, BOURNEMOUTH, UK

Life of indian people will be revolutionised by this car and this will add 2 the boom of their economy. Beware England it's pay back time after ruling the sub-continent for 100yrs.

Adam walker, Karachi,

Great accomplishment on the price side, but it does not move the design bar any higher. I'm guessing that a Citroen 2CV could be built in India for a similar price and is a much better vehicle. Better yet, why not something more like the Chrysler CCV, which is a simpler, plastic bodied modern interpretation of the 2CV?

Norm, Toronto,

I want one NOW!!


Hope they don't go the same way as the Smart.
We had one for four years. The worst car I have ever had the displeasure to own!

Roger Josling, Northampton, UK

i want one!!!!! where in india can i get one? ....i saw them on the news and i was instantly in l.o.v.e....
their soooooo lovely ; )....i can hardly wait for them to bring them 'over here'...!!! either that or a new fiat 500.Its a shame all car makers don't make cheaper versions of their own cars. It just shows you what can be done,and how darn over priced other cars are!!!

roseybaby, east sussex,

Hi,
I am surprised by the "good-hearted" people who are suddenly cared about the environment with the introduction of TATA Nano. They are not bothered about the millions of cars in US and Europe polluting the environment (with many families owning more than one car); they are not bothered about the millions of Plasma TVs releasing CO2; they are not bothered when US & UK are polluting with bombs/arsenals in war in Iraq, Afghanistan; they were not bothered when massive industrialisation in Europe & US polluted the environ for a whole century; they are not bothered with the massive pollution due to millions of flights - domestic & international-in the Western world. But how on earth these people suddenly became conscious of environment when India & China are on their way to become world leaders.

Narayanan Kandasamy, Cambridge, United Kingdom

i think its a fab idea look at all the cars and big 4x4 driving around town with 1 person in it and how much damage they are doing. also ford own jag and landrover but look back and ford did the same thing they built a car that the working class could afford and sold loads. i think tata has his head screwed on.

paul james, birmingham, uk

Gee I would never buy a cheap, modern and beautiful Indian car like Nano. How could I?

I would rather buy a superior German car like Rolls Royce or Bentley. I could also stoop to buy an American car from Ford like Jaguar, Daimler or even Land Rover.

Unfortunately I can only afford cars but Ratan Tata can afford to buy the whole company. If you have money you could too.

Wake up. The world is changing ;-)

SK, Shanghai, China

"take this all you ppl who say Tata are good for nothing n who think the tata badge aint prestegious for the Jag n the Landrover....its the TCS Software thats on Kimi's world championship winning Ferrari and on every million dollar Enzo" - Raj, Mumbai

You quite predictably let your nationalistic pride get in the way of rational reasoning, and you miss the point alltogether. Tata may make brilliant Jaguars and LandRovers - but it just wont be "British" anymore, and many, if not most, non-British buy Jaguars and LandRovers for that exact reason.

If Armani were to be bought over by Primark, do you think Ratan Tata would still fork out thousands for one of their suits?

Exactly.

Chee, Coventry,

how come "proud indian" london lives in UK and not in delhi.

proud englishman, durham,

It reminds me of the cheap drugs that US drug companies seem to be able to supply to Africa as they financially rape us here in the US...We will never see anything this cheap here in the US because of the power of the US car and oil companies...Somehow, it is possible in India, but not in the US!

D. Frome, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

To Don in Colorado. I'm a staunch Conservative in Wisconsin. Global warming is a fact that can't be denied, from what is the only issue. For those who might not know, global warming causes an ice age. YES, it's true. As the warming melts glaciers they release cool, fresh water into the oceans currents which are warm and salty. The more cool fresh water that flows in, the slower the current gets, the slower the current gets the colder the weather will become therby compounding the glaciers in which some in the U.S. are already growing at 3 FEET per DAY. Record snow anywhere doesn't mean a thing. We have record warm days in Wi. Global Warming is bringing us to an ice age. It's not caused by man and there's nothing we can do to stop it. Like the car too, I want one!

Sachin in London, how do you say it? Piss Off. I'd rather the pollution from bombs in iraq than from cars burnt by the radical islamic facists who now run your country, pansies. Don't kid yourself, they run it.

Todd, Green Bay, WI

I just watched the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car." That electric car was sporty, roomy and just downright beautiful. What a shame. Only in the U.S. Everyone should watch the documentary.

Kimmer, Dallas, TX, USA

I agree that we in developed countries shouldn't restrict progress in India or elsewhere, but to think that climate change isn't linked to our survival is misleading. Should we allow small island nations like Kiribati, or our coastal cities, towns and villages to succumb to sea level rise? Is our "right" to private mode of transportation greater than our "right" to safety and security? We cannot tackle problems of poverty, equity, and global environmental change separately--these are inextricably linked. We can have cheaper, more fuel efficient cars, but not without adequate mitigation, better public transportation, information dissemination, and collective behavior change.

Katy, Menlo Park, USA, California

I thought India was going to be producing the Air Car that originated in France? I would love to get my hands on one of those. Anything no matter how many miles is still producing co2 into the air.
pk AZ

PK, cave creek,

With all those motorbikes turning into cars, in 5 years the Indian Auto Industry will be in trouble. The traffic will be so bad no one will want a car.

Al, Omaha,

The volcano in Ecuador that is spewing lava and only receiving light media coverage will release more CO2 this year than all of mankind and everything we do. We should legislate volcanoes out of existence.

dan, Reality,

Someone should ask Rajendra Pachauri how he gets to work in the morning.

Steve, Provo, Utah, USA,

Best thing to happen after sliced bread!!!

Trisad, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Its pretty good and safer for the millions of people who go in 2-wheelers in India and people who can't afford to buy the costlier cars. This will become popular and cause more Traffic Jams on the already congested Indian Roads.

K Jayram , US

jayaraman krishnamoorthy, Detroit, US

The Indians have the same right to personal transportation as other nationalities. If we really want to affect the global pollution levels, Americans need to choose more fuel-efficient vehicles and get used to the idea of public transit. Anybody who still thinks global warming is a fraud should get educated about the science, and ask themselves if they are willing to gamble with this planet we have borrowed from future generations.

David, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Fantastic Job. Indian people's aspiration has to be fulfilled. Hope the government match up with providing good infrastucture. No point in thinking of climate change when the west is plurging on excesses and insecurities. Let the world first become a place where each individual in this planet have the same stake in survival. Then we should think of climate change.

Cyril, Edinburgh, UK

Cyril, Edinburgh, U.K

In India, workers have to pull giant loads on bicycles and carts, skinny undernourished people - maybe this will help them with their work. If this vehicle helps them, then that is great. You "globalists" who are worried about the environment, you don't worry about raising [poor people's standards of living. You only worry about lowering EVERYONES standard of living.

linda, north wales, pa

india has beaten china in the race to mass produce cheap vehicles without a centralized communist government backing this goal. once again capitalism and competitive markets triumph over large sluggish dictatatorial regimes.
chinas' capitalism still has a long way to come.
Zeev. New york.

zeev, new york, ny

Car sounds great! We need more of these rather than these car companies that are loading these cars down with such crap as voice activated music systems, video screens, and high rev engines so all the speed idiots can go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. How many cars are in your driveway and what did they cost?

Bob, Modesto, Ca

Great idea but I want the electric car back!!! The world at large could benefit from the low cost of an electric car especially places like India, China, California and other places with high pollution problems. Hydrogen cars are a waste of time and $$. We had the answer to the oil problem 20 years ago but the government buckled. As for insurance costs? I'm sure those would be much lower with an electric car as well.

Karen, Englewood,

if they could keep the price below $6000.00 US I'd buy two or three, I live in Florida where there is no emission standards to speak of...

al, deltona, fl, usa

$4, $5, $6 gas means fewer drivers, so now you can get excited.

willard phillips, groesbeck, usa/texas

This is terrible...

The majority of Indians already use public transportation and now there's a huge push of a product that's going to encourage everyone to stop using public transportation?

This Mr. Tata guy is evil. I totally understand capitalism; the desire, the motivation - but how can you put the money in your pockets in front of your children's future?

Yon, Boston, USA

the emissions from a million Nanos would be less than the pollution created from the US bombardment of Iraq. nuff said.

sachin, London,

take this all you ppl who say Tata are good for nothing n who think the tata badge aint prestegious for the Jag n the Landrover....its the TCS Software thats on Kimi's world championship winning Ferrari and on every million dollar Enzo.

http://tatamail.com/tcs/media/20070627.htm

Raj, Mumbai,

This is what we will all be driving in the U.S. with the new Democrat energy bill which requires 45 mpg average. This global warming crap is all wrong and just a big fraud. We are having record snowfall in the Colorado Rockies. The local ski area now has received 130 inches of global warming in the last month.

Don in Colorado, Grand Junction, CO, USA

The Nano looks like a great solution to a number of transportation problems around the world, including here in California. Congratulations to the Tata team for a job well done.

Michael Kelley, Newbury Park, California

Cheaper vehicles = more vehicles.
More vehicles = more gas consumption (even if it gets good gas mileage).
More gas consumption = higher gas prices (law of supply and demand)

I don't know about you, but I'm not excited about $4, $5 or $6/gallon gasoline.

Barbara, Baltimore, Maryland

The tree hugging Volvo driving don't let progress advantage any other group will certainly be out again in full force.
Everyone of them is well settled in life, but by chance if anyone else should get a break as in the Nano they just can't stand it.
These are the same people like Eugene from Heidelberg, Germany (who I'm sure loves his auto - they all do) does not want anyone else to succeed. God Bless Tata for thinking of the not so well off.

Bob, Phoenix, US

The Tata Nano is brilliant. The owner of Tata will make billions from the idea. The people who slate it will be the people who purchase it.

With it being so cheap the insurance will be low and that is a problem in Britain.

Anil Raj, Britain,

Id buy one for that price to kick around in but when it comes to the U.S. it'll probably cost $10,000

MC, EH,

Eugene from Heidelberg - In the US there are 477 vehicles per thousand people (a lot of them highly polluting SUVs and pick-ups). In the UK the figure stands at 373. Only 7 Indians per thousand own a car. Before making your self-righteous comments you should look at how we pollute the world in the West. Are you saying that Indians should not be allowed to have cars just so that we can indulge until our hearts are content and our consciences numbed into indifference ?

Carlos , Lisbon,

I wish them well.
Freeze the base price of $2500. FOREVER.
Also add a side mirror for no extra charge.
Now offer options, options, and more options, each with a built-in nice profit margin, beginning with bigger wheels.
By the time you add a bigger engine, AC, big chrome wheels, nice radio, DVD, Leather, automatic trans, fancy paint, and every other option you can think of, the profit margin is very nice, and the company is very successful.
This could easily become the next "cult car", popular world-wide, because they caught the imagine of millions of people, rich and poor, who have always wished for a car like this.

john noecker, hudson, ny, USA

I think I'd rather walk.

Brian, Hagerstown, MD.

All honours go to Tata Nano team of 500 creators who persisted five years. Detractors "Green people" remind me of the empress's quote "If there's no bread let them eat cake" poor masses in india carry their load on their head to eke out a living their children in a plastic basket in front of their legs on a motor scooter, with their wives babe in arm behind them, forget what the Nano will do for the Indian economy which is now air-borne.

Raymond Rahimzadeh, London, Great Britain

Great. Now why not next invent the petrol-powered rollerskate so that every idiot on the planet has an equal democratic chance to poison the planet?

eugene, heidelberg, germany

"Tata's software the runs the Ferrari's...be it the F1 car or the Enzo"

That says it all. Bravo India!! we have never been proud enuf
Take it with a pinch of salt that is only ment for indians by an proud indian!

proud Indian, london, UK

Tata have recognised specific local needs & have addressed the key local factors to produce this new vehicle. All major world cities have transport issues, Delhi possibly more than most. The bigger picture is an integrated transport system i.e. bus, light rail, taxi & inner city road (traffic flow) controls thru tolls, dedicated bus lanes with links to the light rail. The new peoples car will be a part of this and, with development, possibly the basis for safer, more affordable, plentiful, more efficient (than present), regulated taxi services. This is a positive step towards supporting specific local needs, but is only a part of what will (needs) to be a larger plan/scheme.

Tony, Cheltenham,

It gets great gas milage. It's ultra ugly. It's not made in America. The liberals here in the U.S.A. will buy them up by the shiploads.

Randy, Washington D.C., U.S.A.

I will not buy it unless i have Jeremy Clarkson's opinion.
Thats if he can fit inside one of those... :)

This could be the world's first disposable car ?

Mohammed, London, UK

Michael from Detroit - In the UK, we would love gas to be $5 a gallon. At todays exchange rate, our gas is $9.40 a gallon now.

Sheila, Somerset, UK

Is it any wonder many people in developing countries hate us and want to blow us to smitherines? We would deny them even this tiny cheap car in the name of an unproven theory? Human caused global warming is a scam that will be exposed sooner than most realize.

As those who live there have pointed out this vehicle is much safer than what many are using now. It is also safer than many of the vehicles those of us in the west were using fifty years ago. How many vehicles in the United States get 50 mpg?

Steven Miller, Tacoma, WA, USA

In response to Mr. Phil McCrevis,

Dunno if you've ever been to India, but plasma TVs are plentiful (and yes, they do "work" there). Indeed, every conceivable appliance is available in the country, at quite reasonable prices. Moreover, there are a plethora of restaurants around the country that will cater to your culinary tastes (though steak may be a bit tough to find - but I am sure if you try hard enough you can manage). Oh, and I have had no shortage of wine options to choose from when I have been out during my many India trips. And don't worry about the shots, plenty of Westerners now come to India as medical tourists, so we must be doing something right. Instead of being a typical sabre-rattler afraid of being outsourced, stay in Pasadena and gorge on as much steak as you want.

People - understand the Nano's target demographic and give credit where it is due. Enough about whether it will be street legal in the US or Europe - that is not the car's intended market.

UK-Born Indian Permanent Resident of the US, New York, NY,

1) This is India's " people's car", to offer comfort and safety to those millions of Indian families that travel four to a two-wheeler, Dad, two kids and Mum - a common sight in India. Mr. Tata mentioned this.
2) It shows India's innovativeness - a welcome move to focus on its needs, to adapt engineering innovations to Indian conditions. Tata shows it is not going to slacken in the face of competition from the auto giants of this world. Tata has not copied anyone, this car is built from its own blue print. This innovative spirit Tata will show w.r.t. Jaguar and LandRover too - but for a different market in the USA and Europe. Tata know top class engineering too. At any rate, they would use British expertise better than Ford has done.
3) All the older, used cars you say you can buy for the price of the NANO, once you start replacing the head-gasket, the hand-brake cable, drive shaft, water-pump, sagging upholstery, what would be the state of your wallet? With the Nano you save tons.

Krishna, Melbourne, Australia

Food and contraception would be a more appropriate, when one considers that the streets of most Indian cities are choked with people.

wayne, huntingdon, cambridgeshire

Thanks Tony that was funny.

Greg, Baghdad, Iraq

I wonder how India's population will feel when they have millions of these Nano's on the road, but can no longer walk outside without breathing problems due to the pollution they cause? Who cares if everybody can have a car if they are too sick to drive it due to the pollution.

PJ, Saucier, Mississippi USA

I think this could be a great car.

My last car was a GEO Metro, 3 cylinder, it got in the high 40's MPG when new and 30 to 45 MPG at the end of 12 years.

Depending on the reliability of this car and perhaps other factors, I would consider a purchase if it available in the US.

LM, Vernon Hills, Illinois

Two Words: Death Trap

Al Gore, Seatle, WA

Buy two and you'll have a nice pair of Tatas!

Tony, Washington, DC

Wow, thats like saying only those in the developed countries can drive cars and the rest drive bulock carts!

Amar, London,

In India one can see whole families on two-wheeler scooters: a toddler standing in front holding on to the handlebars, an older child squeezed between the parents, and a baby in the mothers arms.
My brother and I have made many journeys in this manner, but that was when we were little children in the early seventies. Since then my family has upgraded to cars, like so many others, and the roads have become so much more crowded and dangerous.
The Nano may not meet the crash standards of the west. But a family of four or five would be much safer than if were on a scooter or motorcycle.
This is Ratan Tata's stated reason for introducing the Nano, and I believe him.
I am certainly concerned about the environment. But India's public transport is extremely inadequate. People who use more expensive cars seem very hypocritical when they protest against the Nano.

OkTata, New Delhi, India

Hats off to Ratan Tata ! It is wonderful news for India and parents of school students who until now had to use their scooters, motorbikes or three-wheeler taxis to transport their kids to and from their schools during rain, wind and hot weather. Nano is much safer than the above vehicles.

Many seniors who live on budget will benefit from Nano Taxis for grocery shopping, travel between home and doctor's office and visiting their friends and places of worship.

In India, Nano will provide protection for hundreds of millions of students, workers and seniors from inclement weather during travel, make the travel affordable and use less petrol and thereby cause less pollution bec. more and more people will gradually leave their gas-guzzlers home for occasional use only. .

Nano will save every user money with lesser use of petrol, reduce traffic congestion on roads bec. of Nano's small size, save road-maintenance costs bec. of its lesser weight and reduce petrol-import.

b.kartha, Vancouver, BC/Canada

An idea for a car I have long kicked around is this:
x cost < $5k usd
x diesel or other bio fuel
x carries 2 adults and two kids or luggage.
x about 60mph or less.
x about 50mpg.
x every component removable in under one hour.
x most components avail at walmart or similar, ie cheap and available parts.

While I love cars, I think we spend way too much money on transportation.

I think this Indian car is a good first step. This is the best thing I have seen come out of India since Curry.

Steve P, Ft. Worth, texas usa

I find it appalling that "environmentalists" would rather deny people the freedom of having their own transportation to make their lives easier because they decided they know better how to live their lives for them. How despicable. That's environmentalism today. No different from the communism of China or North Korea. I wish I could give everyone in India an SUV so that U.N. bureaucrat can have nightmares every single night for the rest of his life. This clearly shows that to environmentalists, people are the problem. The problem that too many of them exists.

Derric, Fort Bragg, USA / NC

I do not want to generalize here, especially on the comments on Indian software and the automobile industry. But the fact is that Americans are too worried about India and China stealing their jobs. well thats trute that the jobs are do coming here, but only for one reason: better productivity at a lower cost./ and thats what the Nano exemplifies. So wait and watch how Suzuki''s Toyota's and Ford's of the world are given a run for their money.

Maneesh, Mumbai, India

50mpg is ok but not class leading Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 will do 65mpg and have pased NCAP crash testing.

Sang33ta, Bolton, UK

If you had two of them, you could quote from An Officer and a Gentleman, "That's a bodacious set of tatas"

G Miller, Vancouver, WA

Greenpeace should rally behind a vehicle like this, not condemn it. Fifty miles per gallon? My old Norton Commando motorbike didn't get that . . . though it was a bit faster.

Bruce Ferguson, Dayton, Ohio, USA

Once Tata finds out it can be done they will form a union and within two years the car will be named Cadillac, Lincoln, or Prowler.

nonunion, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Would make a great station car... (a short commute to the railroad station) Cheap used cars are very often someone else's headache. I'd take a new Nano over a rice burner with 150,000 miles on it, hands down.

Way to go, India.

Bill, Milford, CT USA

China, and now India. Whew! Americans should brace for even higher gas prices and consumption increases! The oil supply will be drained even faster now.

c , athens, usa/ga

Great idea, but you'll need front wheel drive to get around during the mud season. You'll total it if you hit a cow. Don't take it on the highway, though . . the trucks will hardly feel a bump as they drive over you.

Stu Thomson, MA USA

Stuart, Boston, MA

I'm waiting for the SUV model with 4 wheel drive.

Dick Forrester, Zephyrhills, USA/Florida

Someone forget that this car is a huge step backwards on emissions?
Thanks India- steal our jobs, now you will deploying one of the most polluting cars to thousands of people. Clever.

thetruth, Thetruth,

To Dan in Yakima, WA:

UK English grammar/spelling differs from the American English of which we are most familiar.

Daniel, Los Angeles, CA

This car is not suited for Americans. Indians are tiny people. Americans are huge like their burgers...one American would take up two front seats...

Mohammed, London, UK

You thought gas prices are high now......wait in a few years when half of India/China/and whatever developing country are driving these like crazy......cant wait for gas to be $5 a gallon.

Michael Benedettini, Detroit, USA

I look forward to seeing the full crash tests results for this car. If it lives up to expectations we will have a winner.

AW, Minden, USA, Nevada

How like a Crosley automobile 65 years ago which also gave 50 miles per gallon

Progress

D, Tustin, CA

The only revolutionary thing about this car is the price.

Getting something cheaper from India has been happening since the outsourcing boom started.

I'm looking forward to the days when they introduce the first family size cars at Nano's price levels.

Johan Jameson, London, UK

Just imagine the fuel and emission savings if 275 million North Americans and 200 Million odd Europeans made this their car of choice! That might help until we all ride Segways.

Hawkins, Dorchester, Dorset

Mercedes is bringing SMART to USA in 2008 which is very similar to Tata Nano, mostly will be priced around 10,000 - 12,000. But this one will have lot of features however with Mercedes Design/Built.

Chris, Tampa, FL

Environmentalists whine about SUVs being too big, yet they still get all bent when something like this comes along. That group is never happy. Who are a bunch of yuppie granola crunchers to tell India they can't have these cars anyway?

This thing looks like a glorified golf cart though. I think golf carts actually cost more however.

Kyle, Odessa, FL

lol 7 mph . No thanks.

daisycutter, UK London,

I guess most people posting comments are missing the point .... this is a car for the poor people who have never had a car, who don't have kids playing soccer that they need to drive around for soccer practise, have income of less than $10,000 annually. So stop looking at it from a western viewpoint and see if it meets the needs of the audience it is designed.

SP, Chicago, IL,

Bring it to the USA I will buy one!!

Thomas LaPrade, baldwinville, USA, MA

lol, I'm not sure why the enviromentalists are in such a fret. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri can stuff it. This car pollutes less then most of the cars, scooters, and motorcycles that fill India's roads right now and has gas mileage of almost 50 mpg. Tata is already commited to designing even more enviromentally and gas friendly cars and there's that joint project by Bajaj and Nissan. Now only if the Indian Gov't did something productive like ignore all the animal rights activists and took all the cows and buffalo off the streets.

Ashkar, Boston, USA

Where the hell are these cars going to be driven? India's roads are choked as it is. Several lakhs of these mini bathtubs are the last thing we need.

JR, Houston, TX

To David of Charlotte NC:
I recommend buying a good used Geo Metro or Chevy Metro from a few years back. They were really Suzukis, they have a Suzuki 3 cylinder engine and they get about 42 miles per gallon, the same as a Smart car but a good used one can be had for about $1,800 to $2,500. Versus about $12,500 to $17,400 for the new Smart car. (Depending on options and bodystyle.)

Robert Ashton, Tucson, AZ USA

I think the Ta Ta Nano is fantastic!! Let's see how it holds up. If it is really a 'world car', where and when can it be acquired in North America?

Anthony7, Wasaga Beach, Ontario CANADA

Mike Y. TETA is a slang word for breasts. I am Mexican born in the USA. Tata is an endearment for Grandfather in Mexican. Just look it up. Dee in Texas.

Delores Ochoa, Lavernia, Texas

When finally you see one on the road it will probably have 15 occupants.

Singh, Norristown, USA

I think this is great, I want to buy one of these to keep in my trunk as a spare.

On second thought this would make a great Radio Control car.

Smart Alec, St Paul , Mn

@ larry: Ratan Tata DOES NOT OWN and PETRO industry! Its Mukesh Ambani, the world's richest man! oh by the way TATA group is owned by a trust which donates 65 % of all its profits to philanthropic cause... tell me anyone else who does it! and also Mr Tata's family owns less than 1% of the TATA group.!

ini, pune,

As far as I could hear the music to which the car was presented seemed to be Richard Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathustra".

Oliver F, Cambridge, England

How is this "small" car so revolutionary when Fiat has had tiny little cars on the road for years. The Fiat 126 is one of the smallest cars I've ever been in. The Italians drive them all over the place. Still, with this new car, if I can get my kids sports equipment in the car along with the cooler, chairs and us then I'd take one. It would be a great run around car for local driving. For longer distances I'd have to stick with our comfy 4 door. Hey, who wouldn't spend $2500 on a new car?

Claire, Atlanta, GA, USA

Get this car to the USA? Did you not read the fine print? Once it actually is brought up to safety standards it won't be so cheap. Unless of course you want to stay on roads with a posted speed limit of 7 MPH!

Cher, Madison, MS

I live in Spain and Ta Ta is not slang for breasts, in this country (Spain) at least. Teta means "tit" in Spanish, certainly, but Ta Ta and teta as words are about as closely related as wool and wood are in English.
Either you heard wrongly or in Atlantic City the Spanish spoken is not the same as in Spain itself, which is of course perfectly possible.

Chris, Asturias,

The prospect of millions of ultra-cheap cars on the roads (That get 50 mpg) of developing countries has sent some environmentalists into a panic.

Do the environmentalists really want efficient cars or do they just want to deny everyone of the luxuries they can easily afford in their Western Ivory Towers of pompous criticism?

Jerry, Bozeman, MT, USA

People don't care about what really matters... The future existence of our planet. What this will do to our earth is devastating! Our kids may not be able to live here. We should all seriously consider boycotting cars until the car companies give us true GREEN vehicles that run on water or oxygen. Let's start caring about the future!

Gregg, Boulder, Colorado

I doubt if anyone in the USA would be satisfied with a car made that cheap. After all a decent ATV alone costs over $6000 in this country. You might see it in this country some day, but it wont be at $2500, probably closer in the range of $10,000

gene somers, presque isle, wisconsin

$2500 is my avg. car repair bill.

EP, Stavanger, Norway

ugly little piece of junk, Mr Bean even will pass hitchhiking on it.

Serge, New York,

Noting that many cars are now advertised for their peripheral gadgets (DVD players, individualized climate controls, etc.) I have wondered when a manufacturer would return to the VW Beetle concept -- one of a car that is plain, practical, and inexpensive and devoid of the silly and very costly luxuries. Leave it to the Indians to bring the automobile industry back to some common sense!

William James, Reidsville, NC -- USA

So while all the already industrialized countries in Europe and North America are being forced to make vehicles that run on corn or electricity or hydrogen, it is seemly fine for this car to come out running on just gasoline? How hypocritical. If every Indian with 100,000 rupes buys one, you can bet gasoline will double in price globally, greatly harming every industialized country in the world. You forget, India has more people that America and Europe combined. We(the world) doesn't need a super cheap gasoline run car, it needs something greener.

lilykrebs, NY, NY

To David from Charlotte:

I know many people who feel the same way as you, but don't have any experience to base it upon. I have driven my Chevy Trailblazer 120,000 miles and have yet to have a problem with it. US-made automobiles have made great strides in quality and reliability improvements. You should reconsider, especially since they are so competitively priced.

Vincent, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Lets see a comparison with a Yugo. Then give it to the STIG! Or how many Nano's it takes to stop a Suburban @ 60 mph.

Drew, long island, ny

Now, if only Tata would integrate a on-board water to hydrogen reactor (creating Brown's Gas fuel), this would REALLY be a boon to the masses - much more so than VW's 'Bug' as the mpg skyrockets to over 100 and the (harmful) emissions drop to nil.

But hold-on a sec ... doesn't Ratan Tata also own petrol industries? Whilst he is to be lauded for this effort - let's not ignore his prospective profits from increased sales of fuel.

I hope the Nano is not a repeat of the Trabi. Still, considering the state of Detroit's 'Big 3' - can anyone discern the cost to make it suitable for/and import into the USA?

Larry, Middletown, USA/NY

Peter in England, the reason why the established car makers can't do this is labor costs. Greedy Unions make manufactoring labor too expensive, and their motivation to make a quality product too low. Get rid of the Unions, let the market dictate, and you will better and cheaper cars. You can't have your socialist cake and eat it, too.

Michael, slatel lick, PA / USA

Not bad for starters. The true advantage of this type of vehicle is the eventual acceptance of the compressed air car that Tata has started working on with MDI. Wait until they are able to produce the 200 miles to the gallon compressed air car that is currently in the works. This is an exciting first step in that dirrection.

Andrew Barton, Arlington, Texas, US

the New Beetle came out in 1998, not 1994.

brian, lexington, sc, usa

Dave in Charlotte: Too bad you think it better to buy foreign.....I have been buying GM cars for over 20 years straight at the rate of at least one new one every two years and have never had a bad one or a problem one. I have also purchased Mazda & Volkswagen products during that time and have decided their quality is hyped and they are not up to the standards of American cars. I am not employed with the auto industry; I am just a satisfied consumer. I would guess you sell cars for one of the foreign manufacturers........riiggghhttt????

mark, st paul, mn

Oh, yes, the environmentalists in their Lexi and their private aircraft are alarmed about poor people enjoying mobility and, hence, more freedom and opportunity.

And, yes, I want a Nano.

Mack, Kirbyville, Texas

What this car does is throw safety under the bus in favor of low price. There's a reason that this story didn't mention US sales at all: It could never pass US safety and emission standards which are much more stringent than the statandards of Europe or India. There are European cars today which cannot be imported into the US. Now India may have decided that the safety of it's people is not of primary concern but the US won;t be taking any backward steps just to sell a super-cheap car.

DougW, PORTLAND, OR, US

My first car in college was a 1957 VW Beetle with 36 hp, no safety features, no radio or air conditioning, not even a gas gauge, weighed 1,700 pounds (773 kg) and managed to survive for more than 150,000 miles. The Tata Nano sounds very familiar fifty years later.

Michael, Houston, Texas USA

I have an '89 GEO Metro, still doing fine and saving me money at the pump. An Atlantic Monthly article a few years ago pointed out that if everyone drove economical lightweight cars we would all not only save billions and reduce emissions by quantum degrees, but also reduce traffic fatalities by something like 75%. The big huge heavy monster cars create more horrific accidents because of all that mass. I'd love to see a 50mph qualification in the US within 10 years. Sooner if possible.

Chris, Concord, MA

I hope David in Charlotte NC moves to India... The big 3 have always made a great car AND it supports the economy. Dave I hope you job gets out sourced and then you can cry about how unfair life is to you.... I am FOR the Tata I hope it drives prices down here. I am FOR fair mkt competition. I am FOR undeveloped nations developing. I am FOR national pride (no matter where your from) I am AGAINST cry babies who complain and contribute nothing...

Blair, Pittsburgh, USA

Great! We should required all of the elected class to drive these for having screwed up the energy supply. It we had gotten out in front of this problem in the Jimmy Carter years it would not be a problem today. Now all our Congressmen have one thumb in their butts and the other in their mouths while the President yells "Switch!" every five minutes.

Adrian Vance

Adrian Vance, Lakeport, , USA, California

Can you say Yugo...or Le Car (Le junk)...been there done that

Fred West, Waldorf, USA

So, here is India's Model T, it is great and good for them. And screw the shrill enviromental flakes who would deprive others the kind of life they themselves already have for the sake of their own sense of self-loathing.

I am a proud American, but I remember when the U.S. were the innovators in all things. Now, we can't scratch our backsides without a commitee or an environmental impact study, the threat of a lawsuit and some obscure groups being somehow offended or having their feelings hurt.

Now, architectural innovations are in China or Dubai. 6 1/2 years later, after 9/11 there is still a hole in the ground where they can't even put up a new building, let alone an innovative one. For automotive innovations today look to India or Japan.
Wake up people (in the U.S.) and tell these little gnats who whine about any and everything to lead, follow, or get out of the way instead of holding back and slowly strangling the potential of America.

Michael, Prague, Czech Republic

Great to see the Yugo has found its way to India! Will they be recycling them???

Scott, Alexandria, USA/VA

May want to change the name. TaTa is Spanish slang for breasts.

Mike Y, Atlantic City, USA

PLEASE GET THIS CAR TO THE U.S.A. !!!!!!!!! There are sooo many people that would be sure to buy this. It could be a real help for many people that stuggle with income here .

Denise, Orrville, Ohio, U.S.A.

Greedy? No. They will build what the market demands. In India, this is what is demanded - a cheap, tiny car. Other countries don't need that - but they may, as when the consumer demands it, it will come. If they don't build what the market demands, customers will go elsewhere, and they will go out of business.

Jon, Detroit, USA/MI

I read an article that said the same care would cost about $5,000 dollars in the U.S. because of increased safety standards that would be required. Which tells you one reason why the cost of cars has increased so much here.
An early post asked why american companies dont make this type of car. One reason is that american companies sell what americans want to buy. They dont sell so many SUVs because thats what they want to sell, they sell them because its what americans want to buy. Demand drives products.

Pablo, lebanon, ohio, us

Please find a way to get this vehicle into America. I would buy one today if they were available.

harry stephenson, nashville, USA / Tennessee

They lost me at the "petrol engine" part. Cheap transportation for the masses, at the expense of the the environment. Too bad.

Howard Beale, San Diego, CA, USA

The top speed quoted of 65 mph is at odds with the BBC's stated number of 70 km/h (43 mph). Based on the bhp and size, the latter is probably more realistic.

Sadhasiv, Washington DC, USA

Nearly 100 years ago when Tata opened its first steel plant to build rails the head of British Steel dismissively commented that he would EAT any steel they produced that met the quality standards of his company. Today, not only is Tata thriving, but it bought the remnants of BS in its recent acquisition of Corus. Tata produces tea (Tetley), software (TCS) and many consumer items. It builds large trucks in a complex that started as a collaboration with Mercedes Benz, and it runs the Ritz-Carlton in Boston. Americans who crow about the big three are due for some crow eating shortly, like the venerable British gentleman. Consider that the big three has one little guy on life support, another recovering from a serious downturn, and a third in hock upto its ovals who is begging TATA to buy Jaguar. Just yesterday one of these three exemplars of US ingenuity advertised a concept car that parks itself -- but it still can't guarantee that its current products are mechanically reliable.

Anthony L., Wilmington, Delaware, USA

I want one. A car under warranty for $2,500 sounds great. The workers in India need food, shelter and wages, not a 401k.

eugene ridge, barrington, usa

Hmm.

My two cents on Tata buying Jaguar & LandRover.
The main reason I (and I trust, many othere non-Brits) would buy a Jaguar is because it is quintisentially British. Ford didnt really understand this and Jaguar "lost" its Britishness to a certain extent with the use of Mondeo chassis on Jags, Mondeo/Focus Key, and what not.

Now, if Tata leaves Jaguar to the Brits, it may well revive the brand. However, if Tata start sourcing large volumes of parts from India, or has the Jaguar partially designed in India or by a team of Indian engineers, that really will be the nail in the coffin. Dont get me wrong, the car may be brilliant, but its just would not be "British" anymore ... and if I wanted a car that was just brilliant, I'd get a BMW or Mercedes anyways.

Chee, Coventry,

Great news for the masses, now they can afford what other companies couldn't deliver. India has shown when smart people work on something then everything is possible. We in the west are suffering from cant do attitude and maintain status quo. Its about time someone comes up with an alternative to gasoline.

Ralph, new york, ny

This would be great in New York City for cabs that stay within the city and don't go over 30 mph because of the traffic.

Lisa, Huntington, wv

Now, if this car were on the roads here in the US - it would be no match for suburban housewives in, well, Suburbans. But, if i needed to take my goods to & from market in a developing nation across slow moving and congested roads, I'd take the Nano over an aged motorbike with a basket on the back...
As for the environmental angle, let's not forget that the mileage is fantastic, and the cubic volume of emissions will be far below said FlexFuel 8 cylinder, 6000lb SUV per mile... Oh, and congrats to TATA! This is an enormous step toward bringing India into the modern mix!

JJS, Buffalo, USA

Ted I agree with your assessment of drivers in the US. However remember that the initial market for this car is India. Currently many are are riding 3-4 persons to a motorcycle, or other dangerous modes or travel. In my opinion the Nano means a much safer method of transport not to mention the ability to drive in all weather. And the comparison shouldn't be with the US standards they will improve over time but rollover and crash test comparisons should be made in relation to India, give them time and they will be offerig a car that will meet even our stringent standards. India is a wonderful country, the people are enjoying a growing standard of living, there is a growing middle class and this is a great day for the wonderful people of this great country. Horray for Tata, and horray for the Indian people, we all look forward with earnestness to your success as a company and as a people!

Rick , Boise, ID & San Diego, CA, USA

Sam, open your ears and read the WHOLE article. People in India are not choosing between F150s and this TATA but between scooter and motorcycle transport. You want to claim that the TATA could be less crashworthy than a scooter and motorcylce, especially considering the TATA's seat belts and full frontal crash testing?

Peggy, San Francisco, California

The article says it met crash test standards and it's not a gas hog either. The global warming cult members have no valid argument and hasn't anyone learned from the USA as of late not to stick their nose into other countries business?

If Indians want this car then they should be able to buy it without having to endure comments from the peanut gallery...

Johnny LaRue, Canada,

Maybe in India they don't care about names. Chevrolet learned a valuable lesson when its Vega didn't sell well overseas. In some spanish-speaking countries, Vega is a synonym that screams, "Cheap!" Maybe Mr. Tata would smile to learn that in some quarters of the USA, "ta-ta" is slang for "breasts." Bring on the Tata's!

Lynwood Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

When will these come to the U.S. ???

John, columbia/md, usa

If you would read up about it it is not for the us nor the uk. It does not have to meet us standards. It is meant to be a better alternative than a bicycle or moped. That's all. It will protect better than a bicycle or a moped.

John , Illinois, US of mf'n A

This is Capitalism at its finest. I'm LOL that the environuts are having an apoplexy. Hats off to Tata. He is the Indian Henry Ford.

Tom Vann, Castle Rock, Colorado

I didn't see anything about a catalytic converter. Could Al Gore or Cheryll Crow give a little input here. A million CAT's, thats alot of platinum. The Planet Doctors have there work cut out !

T Rohan, Chi, ILL

First learned about this car on NBC News this morning. Immediately after stating its high mileage and low cost, they stated that more cars would lead to more pollution.

Just can't please the liberals. Find a life saving drug and they'll point out that more lousy people will live longer.

OK, I'll add my 3 cents. Isn't calling this the 'people's call' an infringement on the Volkswagen? I'll take one. And an extra life insurance plan on the wife too!

JP, shawano, Wisconsin, USA

Arvind Sinha,
I can easily say that the costs for manufacturing a vehicle in any western country is far greater than the cost to manufacture said vehicle in India even with all the extras that Tata gives its employees. It is the reason that the so many American companies are outsourcing their work to India. Timmy is 100% correct. Not only are wages and benefits much greater in England and the US; the cost for facilities, enviornmental concerns, taxes, and everything else that encompasses overhead is much more expensive in the west.
All of this being said I would love to purchase this vehicle, 50 miles to the gallon? Enviornmentalists should love this car.
As Micheal Scott said "I bet I could be the chief of medicine in India."

Onan, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Avind... read up about the Cadbury model - a methodology of social housing adopted by the British government - which is invented by the philanthropic owners of Cadbury, as they housed their staff and offered social and health care.

Finally, I thought the two largest employers in the world were the NHS and the Chinese Army, not Tatu.

nesersert, Kent, UK

congrats to the engineers at TATA on their hard work but for my fellow americans, don't jump on the bandwagon just yet. i seriously doubt this little gem would pass us crash standards, or for that matter rollover tests. those little 12"?? tires combined with the high center of gravity and high placement of mass makes for a tippy combination in emergency maneuvers.
in india the home of bicycles and 4person motorcycles, its an awesome idea. but here in the us where people cant put down the cell, put down the latte, stop texting, close the lap top and drive i dont think this car will sell well if at all. honestly it looks like anything larger than a honda fit would cause significant damage - deadly even to the car and occupants.
great car for the market it was designed for. don't go crazy and try to turn it into a world car TATA.

ted, Bethesda, MD

Its too bad. Tata does so many things from tea to software. so if you have an experience of bad software how can you pull down the whole brand and its 100 odd companies.. !!! And I am afraid who's paying whom real wages. remember jag and Landrover pension funds are bankrupt... so they don't even get enuf pensions. same is the same in many companies around the world. And Indian workers in many cases gets no worse lifestyle than its worlds counterparts. except for material wealth.. And thats changing.

And before pointing India one has to understand that 'If someone is paying 800£ for a good laptop and 20£ for an average jeans. Its because they are made in India /China. If they are made in UK/US they will have to pay more than double the price for laptops and five times for the jeans.'.'

Either way , the car is cute. Its not a stripped down version but many more innovations in one car. Achieved by Indians by questioning all that west thought was the way.

Udai, Glasgow, UK

aesthetically it looks really nice for a little car - could see that becoming a 21st century design classic if it manages to expand around the world.

mark, reading, uk

I'd much rather see electric cars but many of the scooters in India and China are terribly poluting 2 stroke engines that only carry 1 person and require multiple trips to carry any cargo at all and so this car will be an improvement.

Ugly American, Las Vegas, USA

"Tata says the car, which does 50 miles to the gallon, will conform to all present and future emission standards in India and Europe. It has also passed a full-frontal crash test and is designed to pass further impact testing under European standards, he added."

Yes folks, this is exactly the car you get when you allow the government to design your car. And you want it to design your health care system?!! "Ta ta" is what I say.

Robert, Arlington, Virginia

The grass is alway greener. Why don't some of you move to india, buy yourselves cheap cars, and stop bashing the countries that have given you so much? Good luck getting your plasma screens to work and don't bother looking for a nice steakhouse to dine at and drink fine wine while you are there. Also, better think of getting your travel shots.

Phil McCrevis, Pasadena, California

Personally, I'm delighted that India is giving China a run for their money. India is a democracy, its people are intelligent and outward looking. Good luck to their new car, I hope it sells millions. If it does well, I'm sure Tata's engineers will come up with an environmentally friendly model within a few years.

Grace Reede (UK Expat), Los Angeles, CA

The capital formed during the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century was the capital that made the 20th century the "American Century." Now, that capital has been squandered by Marxism, and replaced by debt, resulting in jobs being outsourced overseas where capital is welcomed.

Robert D. Geach Sr., Butte, USA/Montana

This car would never make it in the US market...

Once governmental regulatory requirements and standards are complied with, such as EPA, safety etc... and after import taxing considerations and concessions to the auto industry and the unions, look for this car to sell for around, oh say, $29,499.00. Then, add $2,500.00 for the cd player.

I think the tires on my snow blower are bigger....

Hats off to India though...

Don, Frankfort, USA

Whoa - 33 hp engine and it only gets 50 miles per gallon? What is up with that? Does it have any environmental controls? I say let them try to compete.

Ronald, Los Angeles, CA/USA

Elwin, software from Tata is not all bad. Infact, India is one of the leading centres of software production in the world. You might call this a phat, but I think this is a great ingenious idea and the fact that this is going to sell like hot cakes will prove my statement.
Tony - Yes, the MINI did share the same specs 50 years ago, but what about the price!!!

AS, Redhill, UK

Nice car, but here in Holland you can't buy that car because it doesn't suffice the safety rules.
And if it did, the car will cost around €7000 (4000 pouds)

L. Emmens, Delfzijl, Netherlands

Mr. Sam of Jacksonville, FL, I am sure that Mr. Tata
is not marketing this car to the likes of you. This is
for India and other emerging third world countries.
Tata is planning to sell 1 million units just to break even.
Just wait until they all want to gas up and see what
happens to your fuel bill when you fill up your F150. LOL!!

Anthony , NYC, NY,

The world's first DISPOSABLE CAR!! Think about it...you could drive it for a couple years with no worry about maintaining it, then just throw it out! This will be GREAT for the environment.

What a concept!

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