TATA launches NANO while I cook some thoughts about Safety!!

We Indian are all so glad that finally the Nano has been launched. The first 100000 bookings have a guarantee on the promised price of 100000 INR. The TATAs have mentioned that the project is profitable. On second guess I have this funny notion that the price guarantees in other words mean that after the last car from the current lot rolls out the selling price will definitely go up.

We all know that TATA Cars to begin with have too many teething problems and I only hope that the “common man”’ consumer is not at his wits end if he has to keep visiting the workshop. So far so good!!

I also heard another piece of newsbyte that apparently there is a Nano Europa that is scheduled for a launch in the European Countries sometime in 2011. We have been informed that the new incumbent will have a more powerful engine and will adhere to European Safety and Emission standards. This leads to a nagging thought in my mind.

Why are Indians compromised whenever it comes to the question of safety? The automobile companies and the Government, both are to be blamed for this. The Government is lazy in introducing laws and the auto companies unless pressurized will never do anything on this. Of course the man on the street is also not absolved because given a chance the subcontinent habit ingrained in our genes is to break the law especially traffic or vehicular.

I remember the days when Bajaj vehemently opposed the introduction of indicator lights on their two wheelers. Unless police started taking serious actions helmets were avoided if possible. Using mobile phones while driving in Delhi is a for sure NO NO. I am not so sure about other states. Seat belts were never fitted in vehicles by the Auto Companies on their own until there was a law. Emission standards also came in to play after a lot of hue and cry. I cannot think of any single instance where the Auto Companies did something for the environment or safety on their own. Unfortunately and this trend continues.

Is it that the companies are to be blamed? We Indians are too shallow on certain crucial basic aspects of life. The Government, the business sector and anybody else in the game are after all manned by us. Where does the buck stop?

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