Recession, what?

Oh wait, this thing is MADE for the recession.  Gotcha.  Well,  Tata proved everyone wrong.  The selling prices of the mini beater is between $1880 to $2770. (95,000 to 145,000 rupees – Or – what we in LA on average pay for rent)

However, don’t get too gitty with success yet.  These “booking forms” in fob lish means each “form” costs 300 rupees or 6 bucks to reserve.

A computer will pick at random who the first 100,000 is to get their hands on a Tata  (yeah, you see what I did there.)

Tata Nano

GS Motors

Gas2Org.com reports Chinese Electric Cars Coming To Costco, Wal-Mart 

 

“Yes, the big-box discount store Costco could be selling the Chinese-designed and Mexican-built vehicles says one auto exec. The CEO of GS Motors — Kathleen Ligocki — told the Hybrid Cars website that she thinks the US will follow in Mexico’s footsteps. GS Motors sold 4,000 China-made vehicles in Mexico last year at…Costco and Wal-Mart.”

 

Fun, electric, and cheap?   Would’t this push electric cars to the people who need them most in this economy?    Can you imagine the possibilities with our own spec racing league?    

I can imagine a lot of us buying one of these for a weekend in SF and then returning it on the following Monday.  ”Um, I thought I could use gas in it, but its only electric man, wtf!”  

(Que promo for Electric Car battle reality show on Discovery!) 

To us American’s, the Tato Nano is beyond comprehension.   Why would you give up so much just to drive?   Mostly, because we are spoiled.     This is what cars were back in the 70s to early 80s.   Devoid of wide tires, power steering, Air Conditioning,  Anti-lock brakes, etc.    

Remember, that majority of Indians are still on motorcycles and moped’s, which will give a huge boost to safety (its not uncommon to see a family of 4 or 5 on a Motorcycle.)   

Yes, the roads and infascture aren’t up to the task of supporting a huge influx of affordable cars.    However, it does make many Indians living in small towns mobile,  which will allow them to find opportunities farther away.      (Will Indians village’s become a commuter haven like the Inland Empire near Los Angeles?)  

Time will only tell!

Couple of things that fascinate me; 

• 12 inch wheels.   (I remember 13 inch wheels on Honda’s in the 80s, but 12 inch wheels? Who’s going to make those tires?)
• 3  lugs.  
• No power steering (no car in the US is available with out it)
• Nano’s Engine is under the back seat.  Much like the Toyota Previa
• 650 CC  and 2 cylinders of Fury! 

Autocar.co.uk