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Tata Nano - The People's Car
Posted by timethief • 3/28/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: automobiles, carbon emmissions, environment, india, tata nano
Advertised as the "People's Car," the Tata Nano launched this week in Mumbai amid controversy. Many have decried the arrival of the world's cheapest car as an "eco-disaster," citing the hundreds of millions of potential new drivers that Tata's affordable price tag will generate and the resulting increase in carbon emissions. Meanwhile, proponents argue that the Nano has the potential to replace many of the dangerous scooters that now dominate India's roadways, which also produce a large share of the nation's transportation emissions.
Worldwatch Senior Researcher Michael Renner believes that criticism of the Nano's accessibility is nothing short of hypocrisy. "Two-thirds of all passenger and commercial motor vehicles in the world belong to Western countries and Japan, which account for only 15 percent of the world's population. Rather than criticize Indian consumers for pursuing more secure modes of transportation, we should focus on developing public transportation systems that are safe, reliable, and sustainable in both industrial and developing countries alike."
Read Nano Hypocrisy and see the photo here ->
www.worldwatch.org/node/5579
Discussion questions:
(1) Do you think the Tata Nano will replace scooters?
(2) Do you think the criticism of the Tata Nano is fair?
User Comments
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1) Yes Nano will replace scooters soon
2) that is okay cos' i don't like the design of nano
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I hope they do replace scooters but unlike you I don't mind the design. The criticism has nothing to do with design. The criticism is an environmental one that I included in the OP in the second sentence.
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OMG, I HATE scooters! Ergh! HATE THEM.
Sorry. As a car driver, in my county, I get stuck behind them every once in a while and they have no choice but to go under the speed limit because they have a low speed limit setting. It's so frustrating, though.-
The slow speed setting maybe a grind but the more important factor is how horribly polluting they are. Also scooters are built to carry two human beings and not to carry families, and all the stuff that we see them loaded down with.
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Very interesting article, thanks for bringing this to our attention. I would think, if the price is competitive, Tata Nano very well may replace scooters. And, from a safety standpoint, it certainly sounds like a viable alternative.
Criticism? I would need to read a couple more articles in order to decide whether or not the criticisms stated in this particular article are valid.-
I couldn't find any criticisms other than the fear that because they are so reasonably priced that people may flock to buy them and increase the number of vehicles on the road.
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Another question one might ask is - with the affordability aspect, would it replace existing cars, and, would that lower emissions?
It would stand to reason that a smaller more efficient car would be better on gas, use less resources, and thus pollute less. So if it's affordable, and people choose to buy that instead of a normal car...then some measure of progress would have been made...no?
To answer your questions:
I think it would only replace some scooters, depending on the person's needs and desires (scooters are notoriously easy to park, store, and maintain, and are very easy on the finances).
I think that the overall criticism is fair - seeing as you would be replacing one emission for another (although wouldn't car pooling help ease traffic?). But whetehr or not the large countries such as the US and China are more responsible for emissions doesn't negate the need for progress in other countries. SO if they want to go green, good on them. But i find the justification of "Well they're worse!" to be a disingenuous cop out. -
I think we like our used to our creature comforts and it's hard to understand how a bare basics car will catch on here in England -
1) I really really hope it does replace the scooters.. Back here, it is not uncommon to find a family of four squeezed onto a single scooter.. the Husband, wife and two small kids.
I am often scared for these people as it is a disaster waiting to happen.. the Nano should definitely reduce a lot of lives from being lost
2) The criticism for the car(on grounds of environmental concerns) is totally unfair. As has been pointed out in timethief's article, how can you love the Prius and hate the Nano?
Besides.. apart from the young family onscooters.. more often, it is the case that families with slightly older people prefer using Autorickshaws rather than Taxis or public transport. These auto rickshaws are the most polluting vehicles on Indian roads.. but if Nano is available to the family.. the pollution in Indian cities would drop drastically-
Thanks for your reply. I also think the safety aspect is one worth considering. When I view photos of whole families on scooters plus their possessions I feel like I'm viewing an accident waiting to happen.
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Bajaj is not producing scooter now. The countable numbers that one sees in indian road are counting there days. And dont brand scooter as polluting as all scooters that ply in the indian road are fitted with catalytic converters and confirm to the present emission norms.
Nano will hit the road but it will give a good competition to cars.
First of all it is not suitable for indian road. Interestingly its fibre pieces are glued and jerking of indian road will sooner show its place. The front wheel and that in the back are not of same size and there is not enough room available for stepney. This drawback once known will not augur well for nano.
I will not go for nano rather will go for a car of higher price. This will rather go to the us as roads are good there as i have heard.
As far as emission or pollution is concerned i must say this is nothing but double standard. Stop all these nonsense. Nano confirms to all the norms of emission and why this blaming? When others will ply then it is okay and when nano plies the problem starts.
This is double standard. Nano JAI HO. At least in india many will be the proud owner of cars. And the haves do not want the have nots to drive cars. Risible. After some years of research it will be the people's car and the slogan fits well as far as indians are concerned. Thanks-
"As far as emission or pollution is concerned i must say this is nothing double standard."
The double standard/hypocrisy that timethief mentioned is regarding the critiques who slam Nano but praise Prius. -
Exactly.
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It'll probably mean that we have to pump even more money into our automakers
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Maybe so. Check these out.
Vehicle Production Rises, But Few Cars Are "Green"
May 21, 2008 www.worldwatch.org/node/5461?emc=el&m=218549&l=4&v=4d0ecae8ee
Automakers Go Electric
www.worldwatch.org/node/5956
Honda undercuts Prius with sub-$20,000 Insight
Honda Motor Co (7267.T) on Tuesday set the base price for its Insight hybrid at 10 percent below the market-leading Prius hybrid made by larger rival Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T) Honda said the 2010 Insight would start at $19,800, making it the first hybrid to sell in the U.S. market below $20,000. The 2009 model Prius starts at $22,000.
Read more here --> www.reuters.com/article/GCA-autos/idUSTRE5296WJ20090310
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