New Indian Car: $2,500, 50mpg

[Broomstick]

Yes, I suppose so -- alright, it's not impossible but at least in the US I think there are significant cultural obstacles.

[Sarevok]

This car is not likely to be very succesful.

At around $ 2500 it's possible to get a decent reconditioned Toyota or Nissan. These are the most common types of cars in India even though Indian automakers like Maruti are quite advanced. Compared to a 2000 model Corolla this car looks downright ugly and minimalistic. Not too many people would be keen to buy it when they can get a fully functional Corolla with air conditioning, power windows, steering etc.

[Phantasee]

Man, thinking about sharing a car seems like a good idea, but then I think of all the things I've done in a car, and it makes my skin crawl a little. Eugh. Can you imagine the back seat of a car split among 12 families? Especially the ones with teenagers?

[Dartzap]

Man, thinking about sharing a car seems like a good idea, but then I think of all the things I've done in a car, and it makes my skin crawl a little. Eugh. Can you imagine the back seat of a car split among 12 families? Especially the ones with teenagers?

From what I understand, the cleaning is done by the company, so its not *that* bad

[Simplicius]

Please pardon me if this thread is moribund.

In regard to ZipCar, it's more than just a neighborhood proposition. It merged with another car-sharing service called Flexcar to provide coverage in several large North American cities:

Zipcar currently operates in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and London while Flexcar operates in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

NPR's All Things Considered did a piece on them a while back, in which the plan is for a $100 million-$1 billion business. Granted, business projections are optimistic, but Zipcar does have fuel and insurance prices and limited city parking space in its favor.

Regarding Tata's "one-lakh car" and safety concerns, I point you to this quote from the most recent Economist:

Commuting in India's cities can be both cosy and deadly. Children squeeze snugly between father at the handlebars of a motorcycle, while mother rides side-saddle at the back. This precarious balancing act, says Mr Tata was the “visual target” he had in mind when he first conceived of the need “to create another form of transport”. About 1,800 people die on Delhi's roads each year, perhaps one-third of them on two-wheelers. Only 5% die in cars. Tata's project may pose risks for investors, but it promises unaccustomed safety for its customers.

While Tata's car may or may not compare to even very small Western cars, it is almost certainly safer than traveling on an overloaded motorbike.

Apologies if the link is subscription-only; the quoted paragraph is completely intact nonetheless.