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'The cost of buying the things' matters quite significantly in developing countries as is evidenced by Tata's high-profile release of the $2200 Nano (http://tat

'The cost of buying the things' matters quite significantly in developing countries as is evidenced by Tata's high-profile release of the $2200 Nano (http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/ http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/) in India. As discussed on the site (http://mobiusmotors.com/demand/alternatives.html http://mobiusmotors.com/demand/alternatives.html), high-capacity public transport vehicles already exist in rural Africa. Making the American school buses rugged enough for the typical rural African roads and longer travel distances would certainly increase their cost. Mobius Motors is targeting a market segment similar to that of the Tata Nano. I posted this article to highlight the growing entrepreneurial confidence in Africa (Kenya in this case).

joe_the_user 16y ago
Hmm, I'm not an expert on African roads. I know that American School buses do quite well on the rough, mountainous terrain of Central and South America. They are tough, simple vehicles and ride fairly high off the ground. Also, consumers in China, India or where-ever undoubtedly want cars. Despite this, I think it is unfortunate for automobile-centric development to progress. In the US, the private automobile has had terrible environmental track record, a terrible safety record and has enabled a geography of social isolation (suburbia and sprawl). As the most energy-intensive form of transportation, the private automobile seems, at the very least, to have pushed world energy production capacities to the brink. Reproducing this trend around the world seems undesirable.