Has the author ever been to India?

The problem is the driving, the general means of transport, and the roads, but especially the driving.

The new car can only be an improvement.

The fortunate feature of motoring is that it is usually very slow.

michael Corby, London, UK

For a nation whose middle class uses two wheeled scooters/mopeds as family transporation for four, the Nano will be an astronomical leap in personal safety.

Catherine's article above reminds me of the famous Marie Antoinette phrase ....'Let them Eat Cake' (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/227600.html)

Rakesh Monga, Theale, UK

Tata's test facility is certified for testing to EU safety standards, it is also said to easily meet Euro IV emission standards. It is safer that a lot of small cars selling in EU now (eg. the Suzuki Alto). The Nano was designed with safety in mind matches or exceeds all the safety and performance specs of the Suzuki Maruti 800 (800cc version of the Suzuki Alto).

Tata also said it has passed side impact tests (not required for Indian safety approval) and that it would comply with EU standards, so I can't see why it is claimed it won't. The EU version may have a few more things fitted like anti lock brakes which will add to the cost, but it will still be half the price of anything else in Europe with a similar spec. and as safe to drive as the Smart.

SM, cambridge,

It sounds like somebody has heard our cry for help with overpriced fuel. Since our own government will not heed the call, maybe we should consider this with some alterations. There are some safety issues that are obvious, but nothing a small amount of engineering couldn't fix.

P. Thompson, Ringgold, Georgia

Well,Congratulations to all the fellow Indians for the successful launch of the small engineering wonder NANO....As apparent from the writings from the West it is quite obvious that these ppl are jealous of the progress of Indian Automobile Industry....Is Airbag,Antiyock breaking system etc are the only measures to judge a car?Well if it is so than all the SUPERBIKES are quite unsafe which lack all of the above but still are a heart rob in the advanced countries...Well JAguar is very soon to be Indian so better start digesting the bitter facts now...
As,I was going through the blog posted by some Chinese person,I was not able to figure out wat he was trying to say....Well about China I could only say that they are COPY CATS and last year there was a buzz that sum Chinese company copied BAJAJ Pulsar's design...so better stay off...
NANO is an answer to all the criticism of the jealous hearts....Hats off to u Mr. Tata.....We all are so proud for having sucha car in India.......

Shashank Chandra Garg, Noida, India

Very well said Mukesh....I appreciate that u took the pain to sneak peek into this blog n share ur views with others....Being an INDIAN I can't tell how PROUD I m feeling at the moment for having such an engineering marvel being unveiled in our motherland...
well the West is in a bewildered state because they consistently failed to build such a CHEAP CAR that is y they are being SARCASTIC....Well done TATA....hats off to u of about 100 billion Indian Hearts....(Europe once tried to design SMART but failed)..
NANO the Indian engineering marvel has already ignited jealousy in the minds of all the Foreign carmakers....but they have to accept the bitter fact that they have lost this time n they will loose ahead also....INDIA IS SHINING n watch it we are coming n u just can't stop us by ur criticism....
Keep it up Tata....U HAVE MADE US ALL PROUD BY UR CREATION....

Shashank Chandra Garg, Noida, India

somebody please look at the fact that around 30 patents have been filed for this car which means that this car has not been made by leaving behind necessities but creatin new equipments to fill these necessities.

tarun, delhi,

I can bet that after introduction of Nano, the accident rate in India will go down, since most of these accidents involve two-wheelers carrying 2 or more people, fighting for space on India's congested roads. Having personally witnessed accidents involving two-wheelers, I can look back and say that if those people were riding Nano instead of two wheelers they would not have been killed in that accident, at most injured.

If Nano were to be marketed in European or US market with stricter safety norms, it would certainly be equipped with all safety equipment, certainly pushing the cost up to maybe $5000. But it would still be cheaper than the cheapest car (its its category) marketed in the US.

sansin, Detroit, MI, USA

Mr Editor,
I have a question - this car is intended for whom - people who drive two wheelers at cost of INR 50K or people who drive Honda Civic at cost of 1,300K.
I guess its pretty evident that it's the former. So if we compare the safety of a two wheeler with Nano, Nano will win hand's down on any parameter you can imagine of and that is the answer.
Nano is not a car at a dirt lower price with less safety but its a car with a bit higher price with a lot of more safety packed than a two wheeler.
Based on the above, be gracious enough to accept that its an engineering coup as inspite of all so called multinational auto gaint being present in india, none has the vision to improve the life of or look at the market of 7 million two wheeler ride but were happt to sell a few thousand cars here and there.
I rest my case and ask people to comment on whether your article make more sense or my reasoning.

mukesh mall, Hyderabad, India

Dear Catherine Riley of the Times : Please just enjoy this momentus achievement made by Tata Motors to design and make the world's cheapest new car. I repeat, the world's cheapest car made by Tata Motors, an Indian automobile company, driven by Indian Engineers !! How cool does that sound? Safety, crash structures, comfort..Tata Motors engineers know every roupee's worth, so take a trip to India and try one, you might be surprised!

O Hadded, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK

Forget all the safety measures even if you concentrate only on the engine which is supposed to be the back bone of any car,is much cheaper than any engine in the world.Now if you have to mix add ons (like airbags,locking system) on top of it because you are in Britain or so then you add the cost also.
The cost of this car is not reduced because lacking of the elementry components but sound technology.

Amit, New York, USA

Cut corners in saftey because value of life is cheap in 3rd worl dcountries? That may be a view point if you are used to 1st worl lifestyle. But If you think from an Indian point of view, this means more saftey than a 4 member family on a 2 wheeler and affordable at the same time! It is remarkable . After all who has the biggest emmissions in the world?

Raj, Cochin, India

This car has been designed for Indian roads & is meant to replace two wheelers which has zero safety. Comparing this car with high end cars is completely out of place. On safety, pollution norms this car is better placed than Maruti 800 a hugely popular Car in India which comes at double the price tag.

DK Kumar, New Delhi, India

Remarkable feat of engineering???

Tata has been availble in South Africa for about 3 years now and has grown a solid reputation for selling cheap, unreliable and poorly engineered products.

Perhaps by Indian standards this is a remarkable feat of engineering, for the rest of the world its a joke.

Kalob, Pretoria, South Africa

The volume of road fatalities is also affected by the low level of medical services on offer. Limited, if any, access to ambulances and paramedics and low-levels of patient care often result in death from accidents that would not be considered fatal in the developed world. Additionally safety features such as seat-belts are ineffective when cars typically carry more passengers than they where designed for. The poor level of driver training also contributes to the accident rate.

Phil, Mauritius,

This car is a remarkable feat of engineering. Love it or hate it the world cannot ignore it. If increasing car numbers is a case against this car lets stop buying cars altogether. The car is safe and it has been put through crash tests even which were not mandatory by indian law.

Vinod, Bangalore, India

In third world countries even prominent manufacturers like Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan cut corners and don't offer the same safe cars as they offer in North America and Europe.

Javed, Denver, CO

The main reason for the large number of accidents and fatalities in India is not the vehicle design, but the poor licensing of drivers and lack of driving manners. Also the mixed character of the road users. You will find pedestrians crossing at all places, cattle on the roads, bullock carts and horse carriages and cycles and motor cycles and scooters, lorries and trucks. Rules are there to control all theses, but are very poorly enforced.

Chandran P R , Trivandrum, Kerala India