Given the state the world is in right now, what type of car do you think should be encouraged - the Tata Nano or something like the BMW X6 M?
There seems to be an ongoing debate in some quarters about the Nano, regarding its ‘impact’ on the world’s environment. Some so called ‘experts’ in the West are raising concerns about the little car raising emissions levels and traffic congestion. These people seem to be implying that the Nano shouldn’t, perhaps, be built.
Here at India Automotive, this is the most ridiculous thing we’ve ever heard. While Americans and Europeans swan around in their gas-guzzling, carbon spewing V6, V8 and V12 powered pickup trucks, SUVs, luxury sedans and sportscars, they have the audacity, the gall, to point fingers at a car that’s powered by a 0.6-litre engine?!?!
At 23.6km/l under standard test conditions (which should still translate to around 18km/l in the real world), the Nano is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world right now. And its tiny size means that it needs less parking space than any other car we can think of. Rather than wasteful SUVs and big luxury sedans – which Western countries are chock full of right now – the world needs small, efficient cars like the Nano.
As for the ‘it’s so cheap so far too many people will be able to buy it’ contention, there’s no argument there at all. How can anyone possibly suggest that only the rich have the right to buy cars? It’s like saying that only those who can afford to buy mansions should have a roof over their heads and only those who can afford high-end designer labels should be allowed to wear clothes! If anything, it’s bigger cars and SUVs that need to be discouraged – those are the things that are really harming the environment. Stop producing cars with big engines that guzzle fuel, shut down tuner shops like AMG and Brabus, put an end to all motorsport, and outlaw all sportscars, supercars, SUVs and pickup trucks – THAT is what needs to happen to save the planet.
Before the West points fingers at India, it first needs to clean up its act in a very, very big way. The Tata Nano and other small, fuel-efficient cars that are on their way are the future of motoring. It’s the Americans and the Europeans who need to get out of their big, powerful, fuel-guzzling and carbon-spewing cars and wake up to the new reality, so there!
5 Comments:
Really, anyone who says the Nano shouldn't be built because it's too cheap so too many people will be able to buy one, has to be a complete ass. Cars like the Nano are indeed in the future of personal mobility.
It's probably not as simple as comparing the Nano to an AMG Merc or a Ford F150, but yes, India doesn't need to the "explain" to anyone why it's okay for the Nano to exist. People who are against the Nano on the grounds that it's "too affordable" don't know their elbow from their arse.
They will never stop their big brother attitude, will they? Anyways, who cares, because at the end of the day, we aren't the yessir types. Agreed that the Western countries have been polluting for centuries now, but at this point in time, we (Indians)cannot say, "Ok, now its my turn to pollute". Dont get me wrong, I do agree that they cant dictate their terms and conditions to us, but, we as a country too, need to improve our quality of life, by improving the quality of air we breathe.
An affordable (ok, cheap) family car is good. Maybe families can now go out on picnics, can go to the beach and movies without the hassle of exorbitant auto prices and avoid the tussle in overcrowded buses. Which brings us to the real issue. Improving quality of life through better public transport. By bringing out more cars, we are just scratching the itch, not treating the infection. Better public transport- that's the answer.
but the point is.. wont Nano raise the traffic level.. the roads and traffic are anyways a chaos in all indian metros.. plus a matchbox like Nano will fuel the traffic scenario in our country. won't it.. Plus Nano is not safe at all.. One hit from any of the sides it needs.. thats all.. the car will be flying in all directions.. how many deaths are we talking about.. now one knows.. maruti 800 which is an amazing car but still not very safe.. Nano is smaller.. almost like the maruti van from the front.. making the front passengers very very vulnerable.. i agree the amg's and M's are gas guzzlers.. but the Suv's and Pickup's are much safer than Nano.. Nano is a good concept but it should be sold in rural areas only.. and maybe limited numbers in the metros.. otherwise the nano will destroy the traffic scene.. we dont have freeways or highways in india.. its just plain and crowded roads and streets and gallis.. 1 lac is affordable by almost anyone.. people will buy the nano just for the sake of buying it and there will be chaos on the roads.. please think about these factors before pointing fingers at anyone..
This is in response to the comment posted above by 'Anonymous'. You don't really get it at all, do you? Dude, this isn't about whether the Nano is or isn't as safe as an SUV. This is about whether the SUV owners have the right to say that the Nano shouldn't be built because it's too cheap and hence "too many" people will be able to buy it. That's a joke!
What is "too many people"? Who should decide that? Maybe the guy who owns a Mercedes-Benz S600 should then say that the Hyundai Accent and Honda City should not be built, because those cars cost less than a tenth of his Merc and hence too many people will buy those cars and end up adding to the congestion on our streets!
If anything, it's the big Mercs and BMWs and Audis that should be banned in India (or anywhere else in the world), not the Nano.
And as for safety, remember that the Nano is meant for Indian families who want basic transportation. Do you realise that the Nano is a zillion times safer than travelling on a Honda Activa scooter, with wife and two kids?
Please get out of your SUV for a minute and THINK this whole debate through once again.
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