As India begins its 75th year of independence, we should take a moment to remember how far we have travelled as a nation. We have witnessed many highs with just as many lows, but we have collectively grown as Indians over the last seven decades. In those years, there have been many notable cars that have been instrumental in India’s history. These cars brought mobility to millions of Indians and helped them express their individual independence.
The Aspirational Veterans
India’s journey of independent mobility begins in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Hindustan Motors Ambassador and the Premier Padmini became the first cars many Indians could own as private individuals. Even with the restrictions of the time, these two cars quickly became aspirational icons and a significant identifier of a person’s status in society.
In India’s history, these cars were an indicator of the rapid growth and development India was undergoing, both as an economy and as a society. The Indian automobile industry as we know it today owes its existence to the appetite the Ambassador and the Padmini created among the Indian people.
The Modern People’s Car
If the Ambassador and Padmini created the appetite for cars, then Maruti Suzuki can be credited for being the first to satisfy the people’s hunger. The Maruti 800 became the iconic people’s car, giving millions of Indian families their first car.
The 800 was not alone in its crusade to become the people’s car. Maruti Suzuki enjoyed complete dominance for a number of years thanks to the massive popularity of the Maruti Suzuki Alto, becoming the all-time best-seller in India with 40 million cars sold. Maruti’s other hatchbacks have continued the tradition of giving Indians access to affordable and modern cars for their families.
Rural Champions
After 75 years of independence, we can enjoy paved roads in almost every corner of India. While paved roads are the norm in cities, they are a luxury in rural areas. The cars that rule these roads have been designed to be the definition of durability while being simple to maintain.
The Tata Sumo and Mahindra Bolero have been champions for rural India, serving as reliable workhorses in difficult terrain. From people carriers to cargo transporters, the Sumo and Bolero are versatile all-rounders, serving any need that the people have. These two rugged SUVs are the lifelines on which rural India functions.
Urban India’s Lifeline
As our cities became more urban and our lives more digital, the need to own a car soon gave way to hailing a cab from an app. If the Sumo and Bolero were workhorses for rural India, the Maruti Swift Dzire is the lifeline of urban India. In a short span of time, Dzire cabs in a variety of taxi colours have taken over roads across India, quickly becoming the car many urban Indians are familiar with.
Where the cities are ruled by the Dzire, the highways are commanded by the Toyota Innova. Over the years, the Innova has become the benchmark for long-distance comfort, connecting Indians to the cities and towns in their states. While many may not own these cars, almost every Indian has been in one.
The Beacons of Safety
In the early 2000s, many Indians began realizing their aspirations of owning a car. The need then was an affordable car that would have all the essentials required to transport a family of four to five from point A to point B. This reflected in the cars of the time, which were built to a cost while featuring the basic comfort features, a formula Maruti Suzuki aced to perfection.
However, as Indians grew, so did their aspirations for owning better quality. A comfortable car quickly became the bare minimum that was expected from car brands. Safety, above all else, became one of the most important criterias for car buyers. While European and American car makers were expected to deliver, it was the Indian car brands of Tata and Mahindra that pleasantly surprised many. These Indian brands have engineered cars that have been globally recognized to be safe.
In the last 74 years, the India has grown rapidly to become a global leader in many fields while also fuelling the progress of millions of Indians. As we continue to progress, our cars will continue to drive our independence and give us the mobility to contribute to our country’s future.
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