• At about $2,000, the Tata Nano is the world's cheapest car, and was released in India yesterday.
• Naturally, it's a tiny car. The dimensions are nine feet long, five feet wide and about five feet tall, which is smaller than the Toyota Yaris
• The Nano is pretty bare-bones: It has a manual transmission, and no air conditioning, stereo or air bags (they can be purchased as add-ons). It only has a single windshield wiper.
• Tata hopes to make a better version of the car called Tata Nano Europa, which will cost $4,000.
• The Nano is pretty green when it comes to fuel consumption.  The car is certified by the Automotive Research Association of India as getting 56 miles per gallon, as well as  the lowest CO₂ emissions in India, at 101 gm/km.
• This doesn't mean the arrival of the Nano is green, though. Because it is so affordable, many environmentalists fear that it could double the amount of cars on already-crowded indian roads. According to the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, studies already show one person dies every hour in New Delhi from air pollution-related diseases.
• However, if people give up their polluting scooters - currently a popular method of transportation in India - for a cleaner Nano, it might not be so bad after all. According to Tata, the Nano pollutes 12 percent less than a typical scooter.
• The Tata Nano runs on petrol, however, Tata is working on a diesel one...

We had a lengthy discussion of this topic today...so hopefully we can continue this online..

• Is the Tata Nano beneficial for India?
• Should the international community suggest Indian governmental action? If so, in what way?