01/15/08 The People's Car

I am kind of on the fence over the fact that India can now build a car for $2500. While Greenpeace activist fearing more emissions and congestion marched outside an auditorium in New Delhi earlier this month, more than 1000 people waited indoors with bated breath for Tata Motors Ltd to unveil the new Nano. Called the "Peoples car", the Nano introduces the automobile to the masses, shaking environmentalists to the core over the fact that multitudes once dependant on public transit or scooters now have a gas guzzling CO2 emitting vehicle at their fingertips. Pictures of the boxy hatchback evoked memories of the Honda civic of my college days but smaller. I admit I struggle with the fact that while it is down right elitist to believe that only Americans, Europeans and other wealthy nations should be entitled to automobiles, one has to wonder what this will mean for a country like ours so dependant on foreign oil. As India and China's fuel demand increases you can bet the price will continue to skyrocket.