The Tata Nana Is Go! (in India)

After much drama — will it be built? where? can it really be sold for so cheap? what about the rioting workers? the abandoned first factory? — the Tata Nano made its world debut at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai last week. Tata Motors kept its promise of offering the car at a $2000 starting price.

So finally, now that its in production and ready to roll, what will the citizens of India get for their 100,000 rupees?

• 632-cc, 2-cylinder engine
• 30 horsepower
• 1 windshield wiper (for one tiny windshield)
• 12″ steel rims
• Optional power steering and power brakes
• No airbags, ABS, or radio — not even as options

The car will hit showrooms in April, according to a New York Times blog post, where buyers can spend $6 to register to buy the car. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in July. There are plans to bring the tiny car to the U.S., but it would need a LOT of safety upgrades to be street legal here — real bumpers, for example.