Green Options

After Tata Nano, another Indian automaker Bajaj is on schedule to launch the ‘world’s most efficient petrol fueled car’ in 2011.

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.

The Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world, is to make its appearance on the streets of India Oct. 1.

A blurb in October’s The Atlantic monthly magazine in the United States raises the obvious concern: A $2,500 car made available in the world’s second most populous nation (approx. 1.1 billion) spells a nightmare for the environment.

This year, in particular, Beijing’s rush to modernization has raised much debate and fretting about what the impact of a 1 Billion-plus society just getting onto its wheels will be on the planet as a whole. Many critics have pooh-poohed the Chinese for the damage we scarcely can visualize is on its way.

Just think, the United States, a country of 300 million people uses 25 percent of the Earth’s oil, and all of the consequences that accompany that. China, a country of more than 1.5 billion people, has been kept out of the candy store for so long and are finally getting the keys to paradise.