Car Manufacturing in India

1332 Words3 Pages

Made in India

There are about 65 million scooter owners in India. Families are forced to pile onto scooters, or make several trips to commute. Clearly, this is not an ideal form of transportation for most people. However, the low income in India has prohibited individuals from purchasing a vehicle than can cost more than $10,000. Is India’s Tata Motors new four-door, four-seat, rear-engine car for $2,500 a good alternative plan for transportation in India?

In an article, "No, No, No, Don’t Follow Us," Thomas L. Friedman, who became the New York Times foreign affairs columnist in 1995, reporting on international issues like the Middle East conflict, U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy, and international economics, claims that this $2,500 Tata Motors car is not a good alternative because India’s infrastructure cannot handle the added traffic or pollution that these vehicles will cause. After receiving a degree in Mediterranean studies and a master's degree in modern Middle East studies, he began writing for The New York Times in 1981 (“Columnist Biography: Thomas L. Friedman”). Currently, Friedman writes the foreign affairs column twice a week for the New York Times. In his Op-ed article “No, No, No, Don’t Follow Us,” he stated that the inexpensive Tata Motors car would not be good for India. However, because it will improve India’s economy, help them advance in the manufacturing industry, and provide reliable, cost-efficient transportation to consumers, this $2,500 Tata Motors People’s Car is a good alternative to India’s current modes of transportation.

Everyone wants to live the envied “American lifestyle,” a lifestyle that is advanced and fast paced. India is currently trying to deliver part of the American lifestyle to their citizens at a lower cost. Car companies worldwide are coming up with new ways to develop and build automobiles and they are starting to rely on India to help them. India needed small, low-cost cars with four doors and room for the family, the People’s Car was developed by Tata Motors to fill this need. A.T. Kearney, an international management consulting firm, believes that these cheap cars could potentially be purchased by 300 million in India by 2020. CSM Worldwide, an auto industry forecasting service, adds that India will overtake China next year as the fastest-growing car market (Timmons).

In the article, “No, No, No, Don’t Follow Us,” Friedman says that there is already a strain on India’s infrastructure and the $2,500 car will only add to it.

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