DRIVEN BY DREAMS

From humble beginnings in the 1980s to today's EV revolution, India's automobile sector mirrors the nation's economic transformation journey

- By Ashish Sinha

WHEN YOU LOOK at India’s automobile story, it feels like a blockbuster film with multiple acts, surprise entries, and dramatic turning points. What started in the early 1980s as a tightly controlled market dominated by a handful of brands has since evolved into one of the world’s largest and most dynamic auto industries. To make sense of this incredible ride, let’s split the journey into two phases — the first two decades until 2000, and the following 25 years that accelerated India into the global automobile league.

Back in the early 1980s, Indian roads were sparse, dotted mainly with Ambassador cars from Hindustan Motors, Fiats from Premier, and two-wheelers from Bajaj and Enfield. Passenger car sales were modest, barely crossing 40,000 units annually in the early 1980s. Two-wheelers, however, had begun to gain traction, with Bajaj Chetak scooters and Hero Honda motorcycles turning into family staples. By 1985, two-wheeler sales touched 10 lakh units, reflecting India’s growing middle-class aspirations.

Then came a game changer--the arrival of Maruti Suzuki in 1983. The little Maruti 800 revolutionised personal mobility. Affordable, fuelefficient, and aspirational, it became India’s “people’s car.” By the early 1990s, Maruti commanded nearly 80 per cent of the passenger car market, and car sales crossed the 2 lakh mark annually.

Meanwhile, motorcycles started overtaking scooters. Hero Honda’s CD100, launched in 1985, offered unmatched mileage, changing the face of commuting forever. By 2000, annual two-wheeler sales had surged beyond 40 lakh units.