The 'Nano', a tiny car that gets 47 miles to the gallon and has low emissions, is hitting the Indian market. Environmentalists worry that the car's advantages will be outweighed by the increase in car ownership it may bring to the country.
"The Nano, which was announced in January and is expected to debut later this year, is the first in a wave of extremely cheap cars intended to put a multitude of new motorists behind the wheel for the first time. It carries a basic price of 100,000 Indian rupees, or roughly $2,500, about half the current cost of its nearest rival. The manufacturer, Tata Motors, says a wholly new market is opening up in India."
"Per capita, the number of Indians who own passenger cars is still very low when compared with developed countries -- just eight in 1,000. But, to the alarm of environmentalists, that number is growing rapidly.
Tata plans to start out producing 250,000 Nanos a year, eventually rising to 1 million. The car is expected to start rolling out late this year."
Read the full story: In India, Cheap Car Will Challenge Two-Wheelers
2025’s Biggest Transportation Wins
Even in a rough year, there are victories worth celebrating.
The Federal EV Tax Credit is Gone — But No One Told Google AI
Despite getting other details about the now-defunct program right, Google’s AI search summary continues to tell users they can receive a $7,500 federal tax credit for buying an EV.
Bringing ‘Cute’ Tiny Cars to America Calls for Rethinking our Roadways
President Trump supports Japanese ‘kei’ cars, but experts say for them to catch on, we need to make major changes in our roadways and transportation infrastructure.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment
The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.
Dallas releases zoning code overhaul to officials
The drafted overhaul is over 400 pages long.
NYC renovations for dangerous, ‘mercilessly crammed’ street delayed until 2027
Construction was supposed to begin this fall.
San Diego’s Midway Rising project gets greenlight from city council
The project looks to become the largest affordable housing development in California's history.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello