Tada! It’s The Tata
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Looks like it is not just notebook computers entering the ultra-cheap market, we are now seeing what has been deemed the birth of the worlds “cheapest” car. Obviously referring to new vehicles here, this Nano as it is called, is going to open up a whole new way of doing things for sure. Despite the possibility of new challenges for automakers here in the States, Japan and elsewhere.
I think this is incredibly cool and I say this as I live in a neighborhood where there are three Hummers just on my block alone. Could a tiny car like this work in here in the West? Definitely, however not likely with anyone of any height though. That and we need to remember that this thing is going to face a lot of flack overseas, despite likely outselling anything else out there in regions where cars are at a premium. But once we get aside the fact that for more developed countries, this car is not a blanket fit, I think something like this could find a very serious niche here on the North American open roads of the US and Canada.
Gaining acceptance here in the West will present a problem that I seriously doubt this Tata Nano would ever be in compliance with - crash safety. Call me old fashion, but I am pretty confident that I could crush this little sucker like a soda can with relatively little speed on a lonely stretch of road as I hit a telephone pole. I would challenge anyone to tell me that you are going to walk away from that accident. Open to being wrong here, but I tend to doubt that I am.
4 Comments
BillK
January 12th, 2008
at 3:59am
The thing to remember is that car safety is a moving target.
In a vehicle to vehicle crash, in general, all smaller cars come off worse, just as Hummers come off worse if they hit a truck.
The Tata has been tested OK in frontal crashes. It has crumple zones, seat belts and strong seat anchors.
But it would not be acceptable in the UK as more thorough crash testing, including side impact is required, and airbags also. Extra protection would probably double the price in the UK - still a very cheap car.
But it is likely that it will substantially reduce the death and injury rates in India, as it will be replacing two-wheeled transport which is vastly more dangerous than any car.
Edd Scorpio
January 12th, 2008
at 6:08am
Here’s a situation for you, the ZENN Car (zero emission no noise) is designed and manufactured in Quebec, Canada…but is not legal to drive in any province but one (and that one only just, BC). It has numerous dealers across the US.
A small urban electric vehicle that has more room than most compacts (a TV celebrity reviewed it and discovered you could fit 20 cases of 4 beer….and one box of breakfast cereal into the trunk comfortably).
http://zenncars.com/
vjm
January 12th, 2008
at 8:47pm
BillK is right; the Nano is a replacement for people with two-wheelers. In South Asia, it’s not uncommon to see a family of four (parents with two kids) sitting precariously on a scooter or motorcycle in dense traffic. In smaller towns and villages, you’ll often see three adults perched on one and, in most cities, nobody wears helmets either. Speeds often can’t exceed 40km/hr because of road conditions/traffic and, in fact, this actually keeps the accident rate under control. Given the circumstances, I think the Nano will actually save lives. Of course, in an ideal world, we’d just have better public transport…
The Tatas have, I believe, invested heavily in a French startup that’s developing a compressed-air engine. It would be interesting to see if they come up with variant of the Nano that runs on, what is essentially, canned air.
John B
January 18th, 2008
at 10:23am
The Nano is only the *latest* “world’s cheapest car.” Is anyone here old enough to remember the Yugo? Then there was the Adobe, of SNL fame. But that one doesn’t count since it wasn’t really available commercially. ;-)
While any number of small, light, cheap cars are philosophically a good idea, in the US, for now, and some time to come, they’re on the losing end of a physics equation. The first time that you get t-boned by a pimped out Escalade, a ‘little old lady’ in a 60’s Caddy, or a soccer mom in an Expedition, they’ll be burying you in the same chassis, saving the expense of a casket, of course. So, at best, they’re passable for use only in areas or situations where the likelihood of encounters at higher speeds, with the previously-described ‘road barges’ is low.