Comments on: Cheap Cars in India, Part I and II, by Mssrs. Michael and Tripp http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:10:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Naomi Guy http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4420 Naomi Guy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:35:47 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4420 WOW! It appears this video is playing on fast motion, but amazingly it is not. While I believe a car built for the masses is a great idea, I can only wonder how it will change traffic concerns and peoples driving habits. I'm reminded of the claim that the safest addition to a car is a spear on the steering wheel. When danger is staring you in the face, you tend to drive a bit slower and cautiously. I'm led to believe part of the reason they can get away with this driving is that they are mostly exposed on motorcycles and respect the danger. Put them in a car and this behavior might change. Moves will become more risky and accidents more prevalent. However, in the long run, it will help growth and possibly encourage the government to improve on the infrastructure. WOW! It appears this video is playing on fast motion, but amazingly it is not. While I believe a car built for the masses is a great idea, I can only wonder how it will change traffic concerns and peoples driving habits. I’m reminded of the claim that the safest addition to a car is a spear on the steering wheel. When danger is staring you in the face, you tend to drive a bit slower and cautiously. I’m led to believe part of the reason they can get away with this driving is that they are mostly exposed on motorcycles and respect the danger. Put them in a car and this behavior might change. Moves will become more risky and accidents more prevalent. However, in the long run, it will help growth and possibly encourage the government to improve on the infrastructure.

]]> By: Steve Munio http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4302 Steve Munio Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:58:47 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4302 I feel the car is a great idea. To try and say that it will only increase pollution due to emissions is ridiculous. With such a low weight and an engine putting out only 33hp, it will produce little more than the average motorcycle out on the market. The problem of congested highways must be addressed eventually anyways, and maybe this will help to accelerate efforts to improve the highway infrastructure to support this progression in transportation. I feel the car is a great idea. To try and say that it will only increase pollution due to emissions is ridiculous. With such a low weight and an engine putting out only 33hp, it will produce little more than the average motorcycle out on the market. The problem of congested highways must be addressed eventually anyways, and maybe this will help to accelerate efforts to improve the highway infrastructure to support this progression in transportation.

]]> By: Jeff Mohr http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4079 Jeff Mohr Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:28:57 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4079 I agree that the environmental issue is scary and needs to be addressed. But until the technology becomes cheap enough to incorporate into vehicles like the Tata Nano, there probably won't be any significant progress. One benefit I do see coming from the production of so many new vehicles is the pressure that will be put on Indian infrastructure. A car may enable a family to live further outside a city, but for this to work India must better their roads. I have heard over and over again that one of the major reasons China has such a big edge over India in manufacturing is because of India's poor infrastructure. If the government or private organizations are able to better the transportation systems, there could be a large influx of business which could boost India's economy even further. I agree that the environmental issue is scary and needs to be addressed. But until the technology becomes cheap enough to incorporate into vehicles like the Tata Nano, there probably won’t be any significant progress. One benefit I do see coming from the production of so many new vehicles is the pressure that will be put on Indian infrastructure. A car may enable a family to live further outside a city, but for this to work India must better their roads. I have heard over and over again that one of the major reasons China has such a big edge over India in manufacturing is because of India’s poor infrastructure. If the government or private organizations are able to better the transportation systems, there could be a large influx of business which could boost India’s economy even further.

]]> By: Glenn Hughes http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4073 Glenn Hughes Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:00:34 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4073 Great video clip on the traffic situation in India. It really makes you think between the environment, the current traffic conditions and the introduction of a new vehicle intended to be "the Peoples Car" of India something will have to give. It is possible that with the current organized chaos that people are accustomed to, that people will adapt to the change in traffic dynamics accordingly. However, there are significant environmental, and city planning issues that must be addressed with the introduction of more cars onto India's roads. One in particular is that a car on four wheels, no matter how small takes much more space to park than a scooter or motorcycle. If cars are accepted widely in th population as an alternative to riding on two wheels we could potentially see a significant deficiency in parking availability for motorists. Also in an earlier post a classmate brought up the different driving style that is seen in the video clip. In the States we often assume others will obey the laws, and don't think to drive defensively. I also highly doubt any of the drivers in that video were talking on a cell phone. Great video clip on the traffic situation in India. It really makes you think between the environment, the current traffic conditions and the introduction of a new vehicle intended to be “the Peoples Car” of India something will have to give. It is possible that with the current organized chaos that people are accustomed to, that people will adapt to the change in traffic dynamics accordingly. However, there are significant environmental, and city planning issues that must be addressed with the introduction of more cars onto India’s roads. One in particular is that a car on four wheels, no matter how small takes much more space to park than a scooter or motorcycle. If cars are accepted widely in th population as an alternative to riding on two wheels we could potentially see a significant deficiency in parking availability for motorists.
Also in an earlier post a classmate brought up the different driving style that is seen in the video clip. In the States we often assume others will obey the laws, and don’t think to drive defensively. I also highly doubt any of the drivers in that video were talking on a cell phone.

]]> By: Sin-Yaw Wang http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4062 Sin-Yaw Wang Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:22:29 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4062 The car is way too expensive for India that, by the way, does not have the road system for more cars. What India should have developed is an electric bicycle industry like China. At US$300 each for high-end model, they are (more) affordable and easier to manufacture. They also pollute much less. Of course, they also make less money for companies like Tata. Hmm, what's good for the company is not for the country. Maybe that's why there should be a stronger government. Oh, never mind, that will be China. The car is way too expensive for India that, by the way, does not have the road system for more cars. What India should have developed is an electric bicycle industry like China. At US$300 each for high-end model, they are (more) affordable and easier to manufacture. They also pollute much less.

Of course, they also make less money for companies like Tata. Hmm, what’s good for the company is not for the country. Maybe that’s why there should be a stronger government. Oh, never mind, that will be China.

]]> By: Simeon Trieu http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4060 Simeon Trieu Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:36:58 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4060 Actually, the driving in the video is safe. It's just that we expect people to obey the rules here in the US. Some may consider <strong>us</strong> to be unsafe because we actually assume that others will drive according to the law. It puts a different spin on traffic safety (especially since pedestrians don't have the right of way), but overall, it's just a different way of doing things, not necessarily wrong. Actually, the driving in the video is safe. It’s just that we expect people to obey the rules here in the US. Some may consider us to be unsafe because we actually assume that others will drive according to the law. It puts a different spin on traffic safety (especially since pedestrians don’t have the right of way), but overall, it’s just a different way of doing things, not necessarily wrong.

]]> By: Mark Fairman http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4053 Mark Fairman Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:12:36 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4053 The idea behind --and ability of-- creating a vehicle that is safe and dirt cheap is phenomenal. Sure there is a huge amount of congestion in the urban centers, but this new car can be extremely beneficial to the people in rural regions that need to travel distances to get to work. Maybe this will motivate some domestic companies to develop a similar model in America. The idea behind –and ability of– creating a vehicle that is safe and dirt cheap is phenomenal. Sure there is a huge amount of congestion in the urban centers, but this new car can be extremely beneficial to the people in rural regions that need to travel distances to get to work. Maybe this will motivate some domestic companies to develop a similar model in America.

]]> By: Nic Marlin http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4052 Nic Marlin Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:23:55 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4052 That traffic intersection looks pretty scary- but could you image what it would look like with five times as many cars on the road? I would imagine that the seemingly organized chaos would turn into madness, gridlock, or worse. Although the thought of every street in Mumbai being gridlock is stressful, the though of the impact on the environment of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of additional cars on the streets is saddening. There really needs to be a shift in the way people are taking care of their environments and the world. I know that there has been a slight shift in the way that people are looking at this issue, however, the shift has not yet been significant enough to really make the difference. The question that I have been asking myself for a while is, “What could I (somebody) do that would inspire people to take responsibility for their environment, and move them to take actions to restore it?” That traffic intersection looks pretty scary- but could you image what it would look like with five times as many cars on the road? I would imagine that the seemingly organized chaos would turn into madness, gridlock, or worse. Although the thought of every street in Mumbai being gridlock is stressful, the though of the impact on the environment of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of additional cars on the streets is saddening. There really needs to be a shift in the way people are taking care of their environments and the world. I know that there has been a slight shift in the way that people are looking at this issue, however, the shift has not yet been significant enough to really make the difference. The question that I have been asking myself for a while is, “What could I (somebody) do that would inspire people to take responsibility for their environment, and move them to take actions to restore it?”

]]> By: Rob Belloni http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4050 Rob Belloni Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:49:15 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/india/cheap-cars-in-india-part-i-and-ii-by-mssrs-michael-and-tripp/#comment-4050 Looks like 880 and 237 at rush hour... Looks like 880 and 237 at rush hour…

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