Ride Revolution

Business Traveller India's curated list of forgotten pioneers from the recent Indian automotive past that were ahead of their time and helped shape modern automotive trends

- ABHINAV SURI

The history of cars in India is a lot more extensive and vibrant than one would imagine. Under British rule, cars made their way to India quite early on, with the first example documented to be on Indian roads in 1897. However, it was not until a few years before independence that the demand necessitated local production, with the first Made-in-India vehicle rolling off a production line only in 1942. In the 127 years since the introduction of cars in India, our roads have witnessed the presence of countless models and brands, contributing to the rich tapestry of automotive history in the country. The Indian domestic car market is after all a very important market from a global context. As the third largest market by volume and as the fastest growing market out of the Top-10 biggest automotive markets, India holds significant importance in global car manufacturers' pursuit for growth. Of the numerous makes and styles of cars that have made their way into Indian car showrooms only a few have managed to make a mark on the local consumer. One of the largest markets it may be, but it is also notorious for being one of the toughest markets to crack. For the longest time, home-grown albeit Japanese-owned brand, Maruti has dominated the space with nearly half the market share. Other than Hyundai, a Korean marque, which is an outlier and has enjoyed tremendous success in India, most global brands have struggled to find footing in the local auto sphere and continue to battle to secure a single-digit percentage of the total pie. Amidst all this chaos and struggle, global car makers occasionally do get things right. Although some of the models have been inherently excellent, they still faltered due to being ahead of their time, or due to poor brand perception. On the other hand, these products have often led market leaders to rethink their strategy and introduce products that mimic the recipe, address the flaws that led to its failure, and find immense success in the proces