The Tata Nano is a car that is selling for $2500 dollars in India. It is a vehicle that runs on 2 cylinders, obtains a top speed of 65, and gets over 50 mpg. Tata Motors says that it will comfortably sit four people. Of course for 2500$ you do not get leather seats, cruise control, air conditioning, or even a radio. Some of these options are or will be available now and in the future.
Considering gas prices this would potentially be a hot seller in the United States. After all it has received a firestorm of international publicity. They are small I'll take two.
Will we be able to buy the Nano some time in the future? No, at least not anytime soon.
Why won't we be able to buy what could be called a "lifesaver" for many Americans? The simple answer is because Tata Motors, which is in fact one of the world's largest automakers is based in India. They are going to target markets in India and in third world countries.
There are questions about passing stringent emission standards. They will not have to worry about that problem in third world countries. However, they do plan on being able to pass the current EU standards sometime in the next couple of years.
Another problem would be the United States' strict safety standards. I have read that if they were to make the required modifications that the car would cost approximately 10,000$ by the time it got into the hands of American consumers.
Under current conditions it would be nice if these standards could be relaxed. Perhaps there could be two different official safety "classes" of cars so that the consumer would realize if they bought a class II car that this car does not possess the optimum safety measures that a Class I car would have. People could then make a decision on whether they want to use this car strictly as transportation to and from work or if they would want to transport their family members in this car. Insurance companies I am sure would be able to use these classes when assigning premium amounts.
After all if we let people ride on motorcycles, in some states without helmets, then I should be able to drive myself to work on four wheels, with a windshield in front of me and a roof over my head. That would seem to be at least as safe as riding on a motorcycle. I can buy an "ultra-lite" aircraft and fly in the air without a pilots license. The fact is that if I lived closer to work I would be riding a scooter.
Who would not want American's to be driving these gas saving cars?
I can think of only two groups of people. Oil rich Arabs and Detroit auto manufacturers.
Dan Bimrose is the creator of coffeeandprozac.com a website devoted to helping people help themselves. His "Attack Your Life" series aims to give people simple, easy to understand methods to profoundly change their lives. Help battling depression, anxiety and stress.
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