In the wake of eco-criticism for daring to offer a cheap car to India's lower classes, Tata Motors has been busy greenwashing. The Economic Times looks in the reportorial mirror and quotes "industry sources" who assure us that Tata really does love green long time. There's talk (talk, and nothing but the talk) of a 47mpg hybrid Indica model (yeah, yuk it up stoners), blended-fuel vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells. As if to confirm the air of desperation surrounding Tata's "green technologies programme," the Financial Times tells us that the Indian automaker has signed an agreement with French firm MDI to develop a car that runs on compressed air. That's right, the world's first zero-emission, zero-fuel car would operate on the same principle as a cereal box balloon car. In theory, MDI's compressed air car would max-out at 30 mph. Tata Managing Director Ravi Kant declared that "it's a very exciting concept, this way of running a car. We hope something will come out of it." Speaking of which, MDI claims the new car's exhaust will be cold enough to double as air conditioning; a guaranteed selling point for subcontinental motorists. Not to mention the fact that it stops us from dismissing the idea as nothing but hot air.

According to The Economic Times, Tara Shankar Ganguly, grandson of the founder, has revived defunct Bengal Enamel (don't ask) as a new-age electronics and telecommunications firm. Under the brand name Tara, Bengal is teaming with Chinese EV maker Aucma to develop battery-powered two-wheelers, three-wheelers, small cars, even buses and lorries (OK, trucks) to provide Western-style freedom and mobility for India's middle class. At present, Tara has more names (Titu, Micro, Mini, Tiny) than actual vehicles. But with a price of only Rs 99,999, the four-seat Tiny seems positioned as a Nano-killer. Yes, the four-seat Tiny will cost one less rupee than the one lakh ($2,500) Tata Nano. Other Tara models could range as high as Rs 5.5 lakh (~$13,750, I guess). While no one (other than us) is talking about range, and the Tiny must be recharged daily at a 220 Volt/15 Amp socket, it should nip along at a respectable 50 to 70kms an hour. So the Tiny by name (and by nature) will go fast enough for its intended market, but will it sell fast enough to sustain Tara's renaissance? We'll keep an eye on it for you. 

Jerry York doubts Chrysler will make it on its own. According to Reuters, the former Chrysler CFO and GM Board member reckons "Chrysler as a stand-alone company is not viable." York doesn't believe Chrysler will last another five to ten years as an independent automaker. Flashing back to comments he made last November, York also said he thought Cerberus would "go as far as they could in terms of fixing [Chrysler] up, but then ultimately recognize that the company would have to be merged with a foreign producer." Although Chrysler has yet to announce the ten plus models it will slice from its lineup, York thinks Jeep will emerge from the bloodletting with just the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. Coincidentally (or not), India's Economic Times reports Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is "reportedly in talks with Chrysler [to buy] its iconic Jeep brand." M&M would neither confirm nor deny the rumor, but the company began life as a Jeep licensee. And vice-chairman Anand Mahindra stated, "This is a great time to use Indian chutzpah, the strong PE ratio and rupee to buy American manufacturing assets." It's only a matter of time– and not much of it– before Cerberus begins its long-awaited strip 'n flip. 

Thompson Financial News (via) Forbes reports that Ford wants to make a clean break with its Jaguar and Land Rover brands. When Tata Motors takes control of the "crown jewels" in Ford's never-mighty Premier Automotive Group, Alan Mulally's minions don't want to retain a minority stake in either firm. While Autoblog is busy worrying "if Tata has the infrastructure to supply Jag and L.R. with the necessary components, from drivetrains to switch knobs," the real story is that Ford's U.K. trade unions are balking at the prospect. They're [justifiably] afraid that Tata will shutter both brand's UK ops post-purchase, threatening 16,500 union jobs. To soothe the savage beast, Tata is launching a charm offensive; they're flying union reps to India to enjoy high class call girls in luxury hotels (a.k.a. "the VW plan"). Just kidding. "Ford officials and trade union members are expected to visit Tata Motors' plant at Pune in the western Indian state of Maharashtra in a fortnight to gather first hand knowledge of Tata Motors' expertise." Yeah, that ought to calm them down.

Hot on the heels of the canine-killing conflagration of a model's neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) in Key West, Business Line reports that Tata Motors is all fired-up on building one of Chrysler's little GEMs in India– and shipping it back to the States. Tata Motors has inked a development deal with Chrysler’s Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) to develop and market an electric version of the Tata Ace for the U.S. of A. "For Tata Motors, the electric Ace that requires no homologation, and attracts fewer regulations as it does not operate on highways and main roads will be a launch pad of sorts in a market where it currently has a no presence." The Indian automaker, favored suitor for Ford's Jaguar and Land Rover brands, expects big things from the little machine. They estimate that they'll export 10k NEVs by year-end, ramping-up to 50k units in '09. The arrangement also represents Chrysler's ongoing committment to foreign outsourcing, which includes the development of a small car for the U.S. market with China's Cherry. 

Once again, GM Car Czar Maximum Bob Lutz is shooting his mouth off, aspiring to TTAC's non-existent Stop Making Sense lifetime achievement award. Let's face it: it's one thing to say you don't give a shit about Toyota snatching your employer's "world's largest automaker crown" and then rescind the remark (as GM CEO Rick Wagoner did during a Russian plant unveiling in '07). It's another to say the same thing again. But those are the [non-fighting] words coming out of Maximum Bob's mouth in an interview set to be published tomorrow by the German auto industry newspaper Automobilwoche (via Reuters). "Good product quality, the company's image and the profit for shareholders are more important goals than the top position in volume." In that order, presumably. BTW. WTH does that quote actually mean? 

Think your morning rush-hour commute sucks? Consider the New York Times' description of someone learning to drive in New Delhi:

Amid a cacophony of horns, a blood-red sport utility vehicle weaved between cars, passing Mr. Sharma within a razor's edge on the right. A school bus snuggled close up on his left. No one seemed to care about traffic lanes. Cars bounced in and out of crater-size potholes… Sharing the road with him were a bicyclist with three cooking-gas cylinders strapped to the back of his bike, a pushcart vendor plying guavas, a cycle rickshaw loaded with a photocopy machine (rickshaws often being the preferred mode of delivery for modern appliances)… At one point, a car careered down the wrong side of the road… At least this morning there was no elephant chewing bamboo in the fast lane, as there sometimes is.

As ultra-cheap vehicles allow more and more Indians– many of whom have never driven a car– to take to the road, traffic experts expect the situation to get much worse. And with a driving test that consists of turning on the ignition and driving in a wide circle, you gotta believe they're right.

VW marketed the Beetle to baby boomers bent on blinging their Bug (or whatever they called it back in the day). MINI and Scion found considerable success with the same concept, aimed at Gen Y. Now Tata Motors want to encourage whatever generation is next (Z? Back to A?) personalize the cheapest car in the world. On the freshly-launched Nano's freshly-launched web site, you can play with your Tata and add all kinds of dress-up gear (sorry, no bra available yet). Want racing stripes, fancy wheels or custom seat covers (sorry, no sacred cow spot patterns available)? They're just a mouse click away. Tata doesn't 't say what all this personalization will cost, but it can't be that much. I mean, who's gonna buy a disposable car then double its price with accessories? The bad part: no matter what colors or toys you add to the Nano, it still looks like a bloated Isetta. And it's probably just about as safe– though a LOT safer than four people on a moped.