Aside from the insight that most Indians and Englishmen are die-hard cricket tragics, Mark Tisshaw on Autocar shows how much of a gap there is between the Western world and our perceptions, and the developing world’s needs and values.

According to a cricketing friend of Tisshaw, many Indians are purchasing the Tata Nano to set up taxi businesses. So there is an added dimension to the revolution many of us were expecting in terms of recreational use, family mobility and one’s own slice of luxury.

Surprising? Not if we think about it. The Indians are an enterprising society, and it’s interesting to see that the world’s cheapest car could be turned into a business proposition, getting a good return on investment and providing an additional, ongoing transport option in a populated country on the move.

Whenever I’m next in India, I’m definitely going to see whether there’s any truth in this theory. It’s an intriguing idea and I think we’ll have plenty to observe and learn from as the Tata Nano starts its career. It’s got good prospects so far, and any move to Europe should prove equally curious.

Tata Nano

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