Is the new people's car, the Tata Nano, the solution to a transportation problem or something that will create more problems? It is an interesting update of an earlier theme starting with the original Ford Model T and followed by the German "people's car" the Volkswagen.
It's clear that it is probably safer for a family of four in India to travel in ultra small car like the Nano as opposed to squeezing onto a motor bike. Is the Tata Nano a good idea in India? And is the Tata Nano good for the world?
As chairman of Tata Motors noted India is woefully behind in infrastructure development for transportation. The question is how and what infrastructure should be built? If India and China follow the US with a heavily automobile oriented transportation system (i.e. motorways and stripmalls, etc.) where will the world be going?
I think it very hard for us in the car crazy United States to tell the people of India how to live and that they should not buy the Tata Nano. I think the only rational response for the people of North America or Europe is to lead by example. We need to redesign our communities to reduce our need for automobiles. That is only rational way that we could suggest how the people in the rising economies of India and China should live.
Anyway you look at it the age of cheap petroleum based energy for transportation will be coming to end. The Tata Nano (and I suppose similar Chinese cars) will hurry the end.
Something to think about.
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