Five Trendsetting Cars in India
Tho’ we uncommonly get to see international legends tread on Indian roads, our automobile market has been home to several cars, whose stories are told across the globe. More often than not, the cult status of these cars failed to translate into sales figures, leading many of them to fade into oblivion.
However, the magic of these four-wheeled legends is not lost on us. So join us, as we, just like the superb Shah of Blah, reminisce about the top five trendsetting cars in India that also managed to garner good sales figures while they had the time.
1. Hindustan Motors Ambassador: The King of Indian Roads, Ambassador, or Amby, the names have been many. Its extravagant history and importance is no secret, such is the respect commanded by the Hindustan Motors Ambassador.
It embarked its journey in one thousand nine hundred fifty seven with a price tag of about Rs 16,000, that grew up to an average Rs Five,22,000 by 2014. In the 1980s, 24,000 units of the car were sold every year, whereas the annual sales trickled down to an average of 6,000 units in the 2000s. Even however its production has been suspended temporarily, we are of the rock-hard belief that the Amby will proceed to be fondly remembered by everyone alike.
Two. Maruti Suzuki 800: Every once in a few years, comes along a revolution in the guise of a car that switches the way people travel, as an individual or family. The Maruti Suzuki eight hundred was one such car, for it transformed the Indian automotive industry for good.
It was relatively inexpensive, convenient, effortless to maintain, and economical in terms of running costs, that led it to achieve a cult status soon after its arrival thirty one years ago. The Maruti eight hundred had the 2nd longest production run, and also sold over Two,950,000 units in India. It was launched in one thousand nine hundred eighty three and cost Rs 50,000 back then.
Three. Hindustan Contessa: Modeled after the GM Vauxhall Victor FE, Hindustan Motors spinned out the very first Contessa in one thousand nine hundred eighty four to suggest a rather upmarket product along with the almost three decade old Ambassador. It cost precisely Rs 83,437.50 then and housed a 49bhp 1.Five L BMC B-Series engine under the bondage mask, that also powered the Ambassador.
The year two thousand two eyed the end of Contessa’s production, but not of its fan following.
Four. Hyundai Santro: What was very first introduced as Hyundai Atos in one thousand nine hundred ninety seven in various global markets, arrived in India as the Santro. The South Korean manufacturer’s very first suggesting in the country’s automobile market was an instant hit, primarily due to its competitive price and all the features that came along with it.
The tallboy car’s popularity led Hyundai Motor India Limited to claim the title of ‘the 2nd largest automobile manufacturer’ in India by 1999. It had sold over 100,000 units by June, 2000, and crossed the one million mark by the end of 2006. The car has now been substituted by the Hyundai i10 in most markets except in India, where it resumes to sell as the Hyundai Santro Xing.
Five. Honda City: India’s very first generation of the Honda City was indeed the car’s third generation in global markets, and arrived here way back in 1998. It went on to become the undisputed king of the mid-size sedan segment, consequently solidifying Honda’s claim of a fair share in the domestic market.
But it wasn’t all slick sailing for the car, and had to wade through rough seas when it suffered a drop in sales, fueled by the lack of a diesel engine. However, Honda wasn’t the one to concede and brought in a diesel-powered City in India in January, 2014. It has been a ‘happily-ever-after’ story for the car since then. The City’s sales figure, across all generations, now stands at about five lakh units.
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