The World's Cheapest Car

India's new $2,500 Nano just may change the lives of millions of the world's poor. But some worry it could also complicate environmental problems

The Tata Nano car is introduced at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, India

A lot is riding on the the world's cheapest car. In the words of Ratan Tata, chairman of the company behind the upstart econobox, India's "People's Car" will be a "safe, affordable, all weather vehicle for a family which is today traveling on a two wheeler." The entry level model is ticketed at just over $2,500 — or the equivalent of 100,000 rupees or one Lakh — a revolutionary price where the average lower middle class income is $200 a month. (For comparison's sake, in the early 1970s, Honda introduced affordable, good quality Civics...

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