Will the Women of Encino ever Drive a Tata Nano?

Can the women of Encino ever be convinced to part with their giant minivan or SUV? As gridlock grows, will they have the fortitude to trade down to a Tata Nano?

You may laugh but those Odysseys, Cayennes and Mercedes dropping off the kids at school are too large for what they need. There’s usually only one kid, maybe two and yet they need their supersized vehicle for what? Playdates, soccer and karate? Most, so far as I can tell, prefer these vans and cars because they’re BIG. In other words, their #1 issue is safety, not utility.

Curiously, it’s the guys these days who are pulling back from the big trucks and the muscle cars. You’re more likely to see a woman driving a Tundra or a Mustang, not a guy. In your family, which parent is driving the smaller car? Him or her?

I have seen a growing number of smart cars and Mini-Coopers around Encino and on the 101. With women drivers no less. So maybe the soccer Moms will consider a Tata Nano after all. You can’t buy the Nano here just yet, but they’re coming. They’re 10-feet long, carry 5 passengers and cost only $2500 to make! They’re not very fuel-efficient but Tata has electric versions on the way.

This issue of smaller cars will grow in importance now that the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have unveiled new fuel-efficiency regulations, following California’s lead. By the 2016 model year, vehicles have to average around 34-36 mpg. Heavier vehicles use a lot of gas and smaller cars are more fuel-efficient - and they are developing a strong safety record. While U.S. auto makers are currently focused on reducing fuel consumption other ways – more efficient tires and more turbocharging - their long-term focus will have to include making smaller cars available and strongly promoting their safety record. The more small cars there are on the road, the safer we all will be.

Photo: Sandeep Rathod/Wikipedia