Tata’s 1-lakh car: Automotive Growth vs Environment vs Traffic System
December 20, 2007 – 8:57 am by Banwari Lal SharmaThough Tata’s Rs. one lakh car is yet to be launched but it is already in controversies. Automotive pundits are considering this car as pioneer of Indian automotive industry growth. To environmentalists, this car is a serious threat to environment. And a different set of people thinks that this car will burst the Indian traffic infrastructure.
There are very popular bikes in India that cost close to 75,000 rupees. And Tata’s this so called People’s car will have Rs. 1 lakh price tag. So for these extra 25,000 rupees one will get a full-fledged, four-seater car with decent engine performance and fantastic fuel economy (claims are of 25 kmpl in city!). Moreover, if finance companies keep their car loan system same for this car as other cars, effective EMI for the car would be in Rs.2,000 range for five years tenure. In nutshell, one would own this car for just Rs.25,000 as down payment and Rs.2,000 EMI!
This is why automotive thinkers are taking this car as pioneer of Indian automotive growth. If the car sells well (which I think it would), it’s not just the car that is selling. It’s about those hundreds of component manufacturers that are evolving too. Indians will own more cars and it means India will index better in World automotive scenario. Overall, the car may help India leap two steps in one go.
More cars on road means more pollution. Moreover, since it’s a low-budget car, environmentalists are scared of the quality of production. They are suspecting more emissions from this car than any other car on road. However Tata has tried to put a hold on this particular debate area by declaring that the car would be Euro-IV compliant and would be quite eco-friendly. Ecologists wish Tata could have come up with an electric car instead. Considering pollution levels in India, many people think Maini Reva should have been real people’s car provided that Govt. could subsidize the car’s cost and made it available to people for just 1-lakh.
Everybody is aware with India’s traffic infrastructure. There is not a single major Indian city that doesn’t experience hours of traffic-jams. Narrow roads full of potholes, incapable traffic control system and Indians’ driving behaviour make a perfect mess on roads everyday. This is the scenario when we are supposed to own less than 10 cars per thousand persons. You can imagine the situation when the number of vehicles doubles or triples. It’s not just Tata’s this car that might increase this number, it is more because of India’s growing economy. More people are becoming capable of buying a car and this is happening very fast, adding hundreds of such people everyday.
In my opinion, the problems to be occurred by Tata’s 1-lakh car are not because of this car in particular. The problems are there in the system, yes, this car might work as a catalyst. You can blame this car for the damages that are suspected in future but roots of the problems lie somewhere else. I wish this car could wake up Indian Govt. towards the problems ahead. I wish Govt. could take appropriate actions for solving traffic problems. I wish they could help manufacturers in producing green-fuel cars. I wish…
Meanwhile a quick news, Tata will showcase this car on 10th January, 2008 in Auto Expo, New Delhi.
27 Responses to “Tata’s 1-lakh car: Automotive Growth vs Environment vs Traffic System”
I also wish Govt sould take appropriate actions for solving traffic problems, as I am also wating for this car
By AMOL on Dec 26, 2007
The car will definitely be a watershed event in the Indian auto industry. Everyone I have spoken to about this car is waiting for the car.
By PalU on Dec 26, 2007
Pity on those who cries about a EURO-IV car polluting the environment, what about the pollution due to bad roads (congestion) and co2 spitting OLD trucks and bus.
By Raj on Jan 7, 2008
I AM A PARSI AND I AM VERY VERY PROUD OF THE TATAS THEY HV ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THE COMMAN MAN FIRST MAY GOD BLESS MR RATAN TATA I AM A WORKING LADY AND MY ONLY WISH IN LIFE WAS TO BUY A TATA CAR WHICH I WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO NOW THANKS TO MR RATAN TATA I LOVE THIS MAN.
SHANAZ
By SHANAZ on Jan 10, 2008
Its true that the new one lakh car from the Tata’s would cause traffic jams due to increase in the amount of cars. This is the right time where the government has to step in and find alternative ways to regularise the traffic to avoid problems to the public.
By Ram on Jan 10, 2008
The car will definitely be a watershed event in the Indian auto industry. Everyone I have spoken to about this car is waiting for the car.
By S K PATHAK on Jan 10, 2008
Its true that the new one lakh car from the Tata’s would cause traffic jams due to increase in the amount of cars. This is the right time where the government has to step in and find alternative ways to regularise the traffic to avoid problems to the public.
By Anil Naresh Paul on Jan 10, 2008
Lot of thanks to Mr. tata because he has brought a great revolution in 4-whealer market by launching 1-lakh car. But still detailed feature are to be uncurtained about this new car, such as- no. of gears, spead, no. of cylinders, size, average, price on road, how far is it eco-friendly as listened that it is of euro-iv level, reasons for not tobe added AC
By AMARENDRA KUMAR, BIHAR on Jan 10, 2008
Mr. TATA the brand name of indian hearts stolen the people at just Rs.1 Lks. Really this is a good news to the yunger stars to be a owner of four wheeler, it is going to be a big booming in market,
Thank u Sir.
By Narayana Rao Karri on Jan 10, 2008
THIS IS THE BEST CAR OF THE YEAR 2008 THANKS Mr. TATA FOR MAKEING SUCH A WONDERFULL CAR.
By anand shrivastav on Jan 10, 2008
I think Mr.Tata is the Mr.Ford of India. Ford revolutionised the car industry in the US by launching the Model T Ford. Yet, we are living in different times. India is one the fastest growing economies in the world. Within 10 to 20 years, maybe less, it will be one of the largest economies…it will be in the top 5, if current growth rates continue, according to the The Economist in 2007. I am an NRI and I live in the UK. When I return to India, I feel the country is already straining. The central govt should invest more money now in its infrastructure…nationally…in roads, rail, light railways, airports, ports, communications, power, water etc. I am not against India developing but it has to work hand-in-hand with the effect on ordinary peoples lives and the environment. I am sure this can be done.
By Sudip on Jan 11, 2008
The best car nano is 2008 & beautiful looking this car.
thanks for tata mootrs
By Manoj kagliwal on Jan 11, 2008
The best car nano is 2008 & beautiful looking wonder full design small car vary sweet .
thanks for tata mootrs gifts this years .
By Manoj kagliwal on Jan 11, 2008
Any ideas on how and when we can book this car…I think it makes a great gift for my mother who stays alone at Kolkata.
By Purabi Ghosh on Jan 11, 2008
NANO WILL BE A GOOD CAR FOR THE COMMON MANB BUT ONE SHOULD NOT MOVE ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT THER TATA’S ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE JAGUAR AND THE LANDROVER
By aarathy on Jan 16, 2008
SIR I WISH TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP WITH TATA MOTOR`S[ONE LAKH RUPEES TATA CAR`S]
By P.GOVINDARAJ on Jan 16, 2008
tata’s rs. 1 lakh car in the market very useful to use ordinary average income people. at the time traffic will be more on roads this is a gov’ts problem. excellent
By t.r.thangavel on Jan 17, 2008
Mr. Ratan Tata has not only prooved that the tata car is most useful for world but also this world needs the only person like Mr. Ratan Tata.
Thanks a lot.
By AJAY KUMAR PATHAK on Jan 21, 2008
Mr. Ratan Tata played a fantastic role in global economy and his efforts is highly appreciable to procure an affordable car for a general person in india.
Thank you,
By KESHAV DEV SHARMA on Jan 21, 2008
I AM EAGERLY WAITING 4 THIS NANO……I THINK EACH AND EVERY HOUSE LL HAVE THIS CAR N FUTURE.AND I SINCERELY THANK MR.TATA FOR BRINGING THIS WONDERFUL REVOLUTION IN CAR MARKET.I THINK IT LL BE BETTER IF NANO COMES WITH AN AC AND POWER STEERING,WITH A HIGHER PRICE TAG.
By ARUN on Jan 29, 2008
i am going to get nano first with my own hands
By DEEPAK on Feb 3, 2008
nano is the pride of India
By dhana on Feb 19, 2008
I am eagerly awaiting the development of Nano. I have read details of the same at carwale.com. A few things bother me about this lovely wonder: First it has a low volume fuel tank (just 15 Ltrs). Every 300 kms it would need to be topped up. Giving just 20 km/ltr tantamounts to Rs 3/km. Expensive. And fuel prices will only increase. They will never come down as the government will never lower its taxes on fuel that is above 50% of the price of the same. Could not Tata’s accomodate a (say) 10 kg CNG tank too? It could be a flat square tank in the front. Secondly, my concern is the reliability of a cable operated gear. What if the cable slackens or (God forbid) snaps? Can it be replaced easily? If so, I would surely carry a couple in spare. Thirdly, the air con exhaust or whatever it is under the dashboard, right angle to the gear lever will surely interfere with the movement of the legs of the driver. Finally, the front occupants will be sitting on the fuel tank and car battery. This can cause smelly interiors with fumes from fuel and acid. Can a carrier be fitted on the roof of Nano to carry some light luggage without unbalancing the car?
By G Pal on Feb 26, 2008
Ilove cars,My dream was that to buy acar,it was
becoming true,because of TATA People.
By RANGANAYAKI, HYDERABAD on Mar 15, 2008
i want to purchase neno so i want to know which date coming on road & who is authorized dealear in surat
By devang shah on Mar 20, 2008
see what is happening now days every people are looking for a car. and when this car is going to hit the market then god knows what is going to happen. even house ladies are thinking about this car. I head people are saying when we go to market we will use this car, for shopping no dependency. and even the auto rikshaw people are saying we will buy this car but no one is talking about the fuel. do you think feul of an auto rikshaw and nano is same. maintainance is same of so…
By sharlin kaur on Mar 27, 2008
Thanks for mr.ratan TATA
By shalini on Apr 21, 2008