Naruto, I think you might be taking this too personally since it's a Indian car were talking about.
Sorry for the off-topic, guys...
It's good news that the Nano has passed a crash test arranged in a British testing facility. However it's too early and perhaps even pointless to speculate how the test result translates to, say, for example EURONCAP crash test result as their test has some differences compared to this one (eg. the frontal impact speed is higher than the one used in this test 55 kph/35 mph vs. 64 kph/40 mph).
Anyway, if the crash test is anywhere close to the ones that were used by Germany's ADAC for the Chinese Brilliance BS4 & BS6 and Jiangling Landwind, this is a good sign.
This part of the article slightly concerns me:
By that time Tata aims to have 'Westernised' versions of the Nano ready for sale in both Europe and the US. It intends to subject these cars to the NCAP testing, and is confident of a four-star rating.
I hope the Indian version isn't any less safe than the "Westernized" version that will be subjected to the EURONCAP(/NHTSA/IIHS) testing.
I'm sorry but I have to say I'm a bit skeptical in general when it comes to safety of ultra-cheap small cars. And in this case when you want to make the cheapest car in the world you must save basically in all things related to the product. A few examples:
Economically, Tata really cut corners to create such an inexpensive car. First of all, the only way to access the boot space is by folding down the rear seats. The boot does not open. Glue has been used where welding is normally done, in some areas. There is only one windshield wiper, not two. There is no power steering, and there are only three lug nuts on each wheel.
The Nano is aptly named as it stretches just a bit over 10 feet (3 meters) long, making it about four feet (1.2 meters) shorter than the 2008 Ford Focus hatchback, a compact car by U.S. standards. The ride weighs in at just 1,300 pounds (660 kilograms), about half of a Focus hatchback. This light weight partially explains the Nano’s low cost because fewer raw materials were needed to make it, according to the Chicago Tribune.
It's important to bear in mind, no small car will ever be able to overturn the laws of physics. In a collision mass rules, small cars are in a natural disadvantage.
I agree it's somewhat hypocritical for the West to tell developing countries what they must do and and what they mustn't. Especially after colonization and the early industrial era. It's not like pollution didn't exist back then either. The air in London used to be terrible due to extensive use of coal and as a result people died decades earlier than today.
On the other hand nobody wants the developing countries to make the same mistakes the Western world did. It's the same planet we live in so it should be our common responsibility to make sure it's still inhabitable for our children.
Naturally people in these countries are allowed to own cars and in other ways to be able to reach the same level of wealth that we have. And I do understand that a Nano is much safer than the scooters that are the most popular form of transportation currently in many Indian cities.
But again the most inexpensive engine technology is also almost without exception the most polluting technology and cheapest materials don't result best quality and safety.
So yes, a 2-stroke engine in a single car has small consumption and emissions in absolute terms but if you multiply that by few hundred millions, it starts to make a big impact. This is why there is real concern, also in India (as you might know):
Indians bought 1.5 million cars last year. By some estimates, India is expected to soar past China this year as the fastest-growing car market. Not unexpectedly, Indian environmentalists have assailed the car craze, particularly because of the country's relatively relaxed emissions standards and the proliferation of diesel-powered cars; AutoExpo features a pavilion dedicated to diesel. Even Rajendra Pachauri, the usually nonconfrontational chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has sharply criticized the small-car boom, questioning Tata Motors in particular for devoting itself to building cheap cars rather than efficient mass transportation.
The only solution is probably that both sides invest heavily on low-emission technology and green technology in general to lower the cost and make it available to more people and simultaneously improve public transportation in densely populated cities (a great example is Delhi Metro).
I hope you understand my point and don't see this as a hypocritical, prejudiced or arrogant assesment because that's really not my intention.
PS. I have a friend (he's Sri Lankan) who spent 2 months in India and neigbouring countries but I've never been to India myself and I'm sure I could learn a lot from visiting the country.
Do just a little bit of research before saying something. The reason Nano is cheap has nothing to do with how it's made, rather the low cost of the country its made in and the lack of extras the car has. Here is a link, read it and understand it and then get back to me. Nano Passes European Crash Test Get off your high horse. People in developed countries got to F__k up the world but now that developing countries are trying to advance their society everyone has an issue about the environment? Really? Mighty hypocritical there. As for this car being bad, I think the safety of the people comes before anything else. In a country where family's ride on a scooter or motorcycle, I've personally been on a motorcycle with my uncle, me, my cousin (same age) and my little cousin (12yo). I think all of us in a Nano would've been much safer, not to mention the engine on the motorcycle or scooter is not any more efficient or environmentally friendly. If developed countries REALLY care about these "3rd world" countries polluting the world, then help us with our F__king infrastructure rather than sit on your high horse and tell others to do the right thing when they themselves are F__king up the world 10 times worse. BTW, my family was in the pool of the first people to get a Nano. My uncle bought it for my cousins as a learners car. The speeds in MOST Indian city's max out at like 40km/h and only on the open highways do they have speeds at 50km/h...If only you could get to those speeds due to massive traffic. So, as for safety, this car is FAR safer than a motorcycle or a scooter. Honestly, if you don't know about another country, please refrain from saying dumb things about that country, especially if the person you're speaking to IS from that country.
