According to a Reuters report, Tata mentioned the fact that before it can be sold in America, the Nano would need to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards. He didn’t mention that doing so would raise the price of the Nano significantly, since the EPA and the NHTSA set a pretty high bar for these things. Higher, even, than in Europe, where emissions standards are voluntary.

So, if the Nano does make it here, expect it to be safer, cleaner, and much more expensive than the version sold in Tata’s home market of India, where the teeny car goes for about $2,300.

The much-anticipated Tata Nano, the world’s least-expensive new car, has already made a splash in its native India, where 203,000 orders have already been placed.

According to the New York Times’ “Wheels” blog, the company is only capable of building 100,000 units in the first run of the Nano. Tata will draw the names of those lucky first hundred thou from the pool of applicants. Surprisingly, only 20% of the orders placed were for the least-expensive model. Half of the orders were for the Nano LX, which for $3,300 adds power front windows, a heater, fog lamps, and exclusive Sunshine Yellow paint.

Image courtesy of Tata.

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.

The electric Smart ForTwo, known as the Smart ed, has a 41-hp electric motor and sodium-nickel-chloride batteries. It gets about 70 miles per charge, and has a maximum speed of 70 mph, which makes it a reasonable commuter EV, even if your commute involves highways. Price and market haven’t been announced, but they do expect it to go on sale in 2010. Cross your fingers that it comes your way — and you can afford it.

While we may have to wait a while for the EV version of the Tata Nano, the diesel version will hit the Indian market in October. The hatchback will go a rocking 50 mph from its little 33-hp, 2-cylinder diesel engine, but it gets 52 mpg city, 61 highway. The added efficiency will drive up the regular Nano’s price of $2,500 to about $4,200.