$2,500 Car - India's Tata Nano Car (FOLLOW UP) (VIDEO)

We mentioned in April that Tata Motors will be releasing the world’s cheapest car. Very soon this cute $2,500, 624 cc, 33 HP little buggy will be tearing up the streets of India bringing new car ownership to a burgeoning middle class. The low price is made possible by India’s lax safety (no air bags or ABS here) and emission standards. Let’s not rush to judge, they are probably safer and cleaner than the scooters and motorcycles they are replacing. The Nano’s German made rear mounted Bosch engine is said to power it to a top speed of 75mph, although the wheel bearings were not designed to go over 45mph (another cost reducing decision). For $2,500 you get one windshield wiper, no radio, no passenger side rear-view mirror, no AC and a trunk big enough to hold a brief case, but hey, the whole car costs about the price of the optional DVD player on the Lexus LX 470 sport utility vehicle.

The Race To Build Really Cheap Cars

Let the price wars for sub-compact cars begin!  What could be the new race “to build really cheap cars”, Renault-Nissan announced at a plant-opening on April 4th that it was “planning on building a car for under $3000, 40% less than the least expensive sub-compact car available today.” In addition t… [More]