India: innovate or imitate? Why India shouldn't copy America's car culture--for its own benefit, and the world's.

• Author: Friedman, Thomas L.
• Position: OPINION

India is in serious danger, but not from traditional threats like Pakistan or internal strife, india is in danger from an Indian-made vehicle: the world's cheapest passenger car.

In January, india's Tata Motors unveiled the Nano [pictured right], a mini-car that will sell for $2,500--less than half the price of its closest competitor. Tata hopes to sell 1 million of them annually, primarily to those tiring at the "bottom of the pyramid" in india and the developing world.

Welcome to one of the problems that comes with all the benefits of globalization. Blessedly, millions more people now have the incomes to live an American lifestyle, thanks to tow-cost Chinese and Indian products. But the energy and environmental implications of this new, widespread prosperity could be enormous, for India and the world.

We have no right to tell Indians what cars to make or drive. But we can urge them to rethink following America's flawed transportation model, which relies too much on cars and oil Cheap cars could overwhelm India's already strained road system, increase its dependence on imported oil, and gridlock its cities.

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In November, I was driving through Hyderabad and passed the dedication of a new overpass. The next morning, a newspaper photo showed the overpass completety clogged with motor scooters, buses, cars, and motorized rickshaws. And that's without a $2,500 car.

So what should India do? It should leapfrog us, not copy us. It can't ban a $2,500 car, but it can tax it and use...