Indian manufacturer Tata motors of India has unveiled its it's $2,500 "people's car" today. The car targets the massive poor population of Indian that has not yet been drawn into car transportation. The car averages 50 miles per gallon.

Chief U.N. climate scientist Rajendra Pachauri, who shared last year's Nobel Peace Prize, said last month that he was "having nightmares" about the prospect of the low-cost car, reported The Associated Press.

"If you're talking about urban environment, it will cause serious problems," Jamie Leather, a transport specialist with the Asian Development Bank, told AP. "It's a major concern."

AP reported that in 2005, Indian vehicles released 219 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.
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By 2035, that number is projected to increase to 1,467 million tons, due largely to the expanding middle-class and the expected rise of low-cost cars, according to the Asian Development Bank. cnn.com/business

As a global economy further expands wealth and markets for third world countries, so do the need for resources.

In the U.S., a 50 mpg car that meets European emissions specs that costs $2,500 would be a net gain for an entrenched car population. While used $2,500 cars are available for those with lean incomes, they are often cars that create higher pollution and use more gas.