Tata Releases the Nano, No Thanks to Mamata Banerjee

Hooray for Tata Motors! The BBC reports that the Nano, known as the world's least expensive car, will go on sale in India within the next 10 days (As of 23 March 2009).

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Additionally, "A slightly bigger European version, the Nano Europa is due to follow in 2011, and is expected to cost nearer to £4,000. " All of this, no thanks to petty politician and poverty pimp Mamata Banerjee.

In my previous writings about the Nano saga, (here, here, and here) Banerjee and her ilk agitated destitute dirt farmers to protest against Tata to keep them from building the Nano plant in Singur. In addition to killing a supplier factory head, the goons also ran off what could have been over 4000 new factory jobs. Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress Party have forced the road to prosperity to detour to Gujarat. Compare Auto Insurance Quotes and Save!

In the end, the market prevailed. Tata built its car in Gujarat and now a whole generation of people will be able to own their own cars and the freedom of movement that entails. Additionally, people with the Nano will be able to increase their businesses that were previously relegated to scooters or animal-drawn carts. People's lives have been improved not by poverty pimps like Mamata Banerjee, but by a big corporation, Tata Motors.

Tata Motors Says "Tata" to Singur

Tata Motors, who is building the world's least expensive car, the Nano, has finally fled business unfriendly Singur, in West Bengal, for Sandand in Gujarat. I have written two other articles about this topic, "Indians are Bad for Indian Business" and "India, When it Can't Get Any Worse."

In a press release dated October 7, 2008, Tata states:

"The integrated project, ... will come up on an area of about 1100 acres. The plant, ... will produce 250,000 cars per annum. The capacity is expandable up to 500,000 cars per annum. The project, including Tata Motors’ plant, vendor facilities and service providers, will together generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs."

I guess poverty is what local politicians had in mind for the populace, and poverty they will continue to enjoy. When will Indians learn that the way to move a country forward is through a positive business climate, and not one ruled by tin-pot, local politicians?? Gujarat seems to have learned that simple lesson, while West Bengal hasn't. It is a shame for the poor who are left to suffer.