Cars cheaper than mine

Tato Motors has release the world's cheapest car - at just over $2,000 - allowing impoverished people to experience the joy of owning an automobile.

The Nano, a pint-sized vehicle designed to make car ownership accessible to millions of the world’s poor, finally goes on sale in India next month. Whether it will revolutionize the global auto industry — or turn around its manufacturer’s fortunes — has yet to be seen, and other automakers will be watching closely to see how consumers respond to the car. So will environmentalists.

“We can do what most countries felt could not be done,” Ratan Tata, chairman of the sprawling Tata group of companies, said at a launch ceremony Monday, as the swelling strains of the theme song to “2001: A Space Odyssey” died away in the warm night.

While not available in the US, otherwise I'd be buying one right now, automobile makers have got to be slapping their heads now. Is this the new face of the auto industry? Who would shell out $20,000 for a gas-guzzler when all you need is this thing for the morning commute. Any thoughts?