Tata for America

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Tata for America

Post by scionkid »

The Indian company is considering selling this in the US.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by theholycow »

It's like what would happen if the original VW bug was slightly updated...

From the article:
Tata Motors already has made a European version of the four-seat car that will cost about $8,000 when it debuts in 2011, and a Tata Technologies official said privately that the U.S. version is expected to have a comparable price. The official did not want to be identified because the price has not been made public.


Warren Harris, Tata Technologies president, would only say that the price would be more than the roughly $2,500 charged in India.
At $2,500-$3,000, people will buy it. At $8,000 it will be a tough sell, and will require people to believe that it is as reliable/long-lasting as a $8,000 used car.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by 94Corolla5Speed »

I wish the original bug could be brought back. For 5k, I'd buy it.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by IMBoring25 »

There are some people looking for a rock-bottom price with zeros across the odometer, but I've seen some last-year's-leftover PT Cruisers advertised locally for $8K. The cost of federalizing the Tata seems to take a big bite out of the business case to me.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by ColJessip »

There are wayyyyy to many used cars I like that are under $8k to get that POS.

Even if I knew nothing about cars, I still would rather a Kia or Hyundai before that. The only people who will drive those are the attention whores that want to look like stupid asses but cant afford a smart.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by noob5,000,000 »

It looks like a retarded Prius that melted a little bit.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by theholycow »

I suspect that 99% of its few buyers would buy in spite of how it looks, rather than because of how it looks.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by 94Corolla5Speed »

noob5,000,000 wrote:It looks like a retarded Prius that melted a little bit.
x2.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by Tups »

I really hate this "the cheapest car in the world" thing. If you're saving from everything, it probably means that you're using outdated technology to save money. I'd rather see the most fuel-efficient car in the world.

edit: I don't think that'll be a success in Europe. We already have the Dacia thing that's nearly as cheap, but at least looks like a real car.

edit2: Also, I think the world is a better place when not everyone can afford a new car. Global gridlock, anyone?
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Re: Tata for America

Post by 94Corolla5Speed »

The Day-cee-uh Sandero!

In truth, the pronunciation is Dah-chee-ah. I should know, I've ridden in numerous ones. :lol:
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Re: Tata for America

Post by mad_finn »

Tups wrote: Also, I think the world is a better place when not everyone can afford a new car.
Well I possibly could afford but I wouldn't do it...
mayby because there is manufactured only few CARs ofter late 80's
Others are just trasportation devices :wink: but well, that is only how I think it is

Anyway at least here in finland car's are "middleaged" at 15years... that means that there are loads of 20+ years old cars on the roads... how many "todays" car's can make over 20 years of more or less reliable service... by this I mean that the car still keeps in shape that it's worth to fix... than buy another 2-5 yeras yonger car.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by LHOswald »

Tups wrote:I'd rather see the most fuel-efficient car in the world.
every car is the most fuel efficient car in the world...until you start the engine
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Re: Tata for America

Post by Tups »

I might sound an ass from their point of view, but is it really necessary for every poor country to go through the "now everyone own a personal car" phase? They should skip that and go straight to "insanely advanced and efficient public transport" that more or less awaits for all of us.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by theholycow »

Tups wrote:They should skip that and go straight to "insanely advanced and efficient public transport" that more or less awaits for all of us.
You have a vision. Take it to the next level and make it into reality. You'll get rich and you'll have done a huge favor for the world.
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Re: Tata for America

Post by Tups »

Well, the thing is that it's quite difficult to (re-)introduce public transport to countries where even the lower class have owned personal cars for more than half a century, like the US (I know there are other issues related to public transport as well, but that's still an important one). Even though I live in the only Finnish city in which the public transport actually works, I would still like to have a car even though I don't actually need one, except on those rare occasions when I buy beds and washing machines. It's just such a bother to wait couple of minutes on a bus stop just a rock's throw from my apartment. Anyway, it could work in a country in which people haven't got the taste of owning a car yet. Like China.

There's also the fact that people want to own cars even in those less-developed poor countries. Apart from being actually useful it's also a status symbol. The only thing that's holding the mass motorization back is the price of the vehicles, and now companies like Tata are going to change that. Considering the fact that in those countries there are still close-knit communities, I think they should go for a community-owned car tha people can borrow when they actually need one instead just getting an own car that is used for every time they do shopping.

Anyway, those are just visions, but in the end we can't tell other countries and companies what to or not to do, especially when we're doing the opposite of our preachings.

Or something.
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