Green Options

The Tata Nano has been making a splash recently as one of the world’s cheapest and most fuel efficient cars marketed towards developing economies where cars are generally considered a luxury. Now Fiat and Tata have announced plans to market the car in South America.

Behind Italy, Brazil is already Fiat’s second largest market so it only makes sense that Fiat would want to grab more market share in the ultra low-end category.

Germany has hit upon a plan that for the moment is keeping domestic sales afloat by giving away 2,500 Euros or $3,143 to new car buyers that trade in an old car. The government has said that this will not only give the German auto industry a boost in sales but will also put more fuel-efficient cars on the road while removing older more polluting cars.

Germany’s plan reflects a choice other countries face as well. As global car sales and exports plummet around the world each country has to decide on its own strategy to keep their auto manufacturers afloat. But this raises a question: is it better to support traditional car companies that produce cars based on fossil fuel sources or give support to up-and-coming electric and hydrogen powered car companies. Also, are these new incentives aimed to just keep the main German carmakers in business or will they stipulate that their main automakers BMW and Daimler begin producing electric cars to meet their goal of 1 million electric cars by 2020?

$2,000 Tata Nano gears up to revolutionise travel for millions. Written by south Asia correspondent Randeep Ramesh and shared with EcoWorldly as part of the Guardian Environmental Network.

India’s Tata group has announced that the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, will roll out of its car plant with a price tag of just 100,000 rupees - £1,350 or $2,000 - and will be exported to richer nations, beginning with Europe, in two years.

Struggling Indian car company Tata Motors has announced the commercial launch of the Tata Nano, the most fuel-efficient petrol-driven car in India, and quite possibly the world.

The Tata Nano, keenly anticipated across India since its unveiling early last year, is capable of an incredible 23.6km/litre (55.5 mpg) and ultra-low carbon emissions of 101 g/km, one of the lowest in India. Oh, and with prices starting at about 100,000 rupees ($2,050), it’s also the cheapest car in the world (more pics after the jump).

Ambitious Indian car company Tata has revealed that it may launch its Indica Vista EV all-electric car in Europe by the end of the year, making it the first ‘mainstream’ company to bid for a slice of the continent’s potentially lucrative zero-emission vehicles market.

The move is likely to ruffle a few feathers amongst GM executives, who had grand plans that the Opel Ampera (the Chevy Volt’s European cousin) would become the first major player in the region, following its launch in 2011.

The Tata Group, India’s oldest and most respected industrial conglomerate has a reputation for being a lead player in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.