The $4,000 Car Is Coming…

Going back to the days of the Yugo and spurred by the emergence of the Tata Nano in India (pictured above), General Motors announces it’s stepping into the teeny-tiny car market.

From WSJ:

General Motors Co. is targeting the emerging ultra-low-cost car market with plans for a compact for around $4,000, possibly producing it in Asia.

The segment is attracting increasing attention from manufacturers eager to keep sales momentum in developing markets following the sharp slide in car sales in North America and Western Europe.

Personally, I think we need A LOT more cars like this, especially for our urban cores. Not just because they’re better for their more fuel efficient and better for the environment, but population growth is mostly happening downtown, so we’re going to need more space in general.

And yes, safety is a concern, but I can’t imagine many people using these as highway cars. In the end these are more akin to the zip-around-town transportation alternatives like Vespas…only you can use them in the rain.

Here’s the question: Would you buy a GM “Nano” (or whatever they’ll be called) when it hits the market?