As per the history of Automobile Companies in India, in the late 1890's Tata Motors launched its first truck in India. It was done in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz.
Though automobiles were introduced to India in the late 19th century, it was only after the Indian independence in 1947 that India started manufacturing automobiles. Some of the early Automobile Companies in India are:
Sanjay Gandhi was the first Indian politician who championed the need for a "people's car". Thus the state-owned firm,
Maruti Udyog, was launched and gained over 50% market share.
After the liberalization in 1991, India's Automobile Industry grew in leaps and bounds. With the growth in the Indian economy, big international
car manufacturers like General Motors,
Ford, Toyota, Honda,
Hyundai, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Maybach entered the Indian market. Earlier in the 1920's Rolls Royce collections was the maharajas status symbol. With time the middle class also started possessing their own automobiles. With the introduction of several automobiles in India, highways or expressways were constructed.
The renowned international automakers like Ford, Suzuki, GM and Honda have their manufacturing bases in India. But, Automobile Industry in India is dominated by domestic companies like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors,
Hero Honda, Mahindra & Mahindra,
Ashok Leyland and Bajaj Auto.
Milestones achieved: The milestones achieved by the Automobile Companies in India are:
- The first automobile in India rolled in 1897 in Mumbai.
- International players are adding to their investments in Indian auto industry.
- As far as the two-wheelers are concerned, motorcycles contribute 80% of the segment size.
- The Indian passenger vehicle market is dominated by cars by 79%.
- India’s Automobile Industry is the largest three-wheeler market in the world.
- India is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world.
- India is the second largest tractor manufacturer in the world.
- The Automobile Industry in India is the fifth largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world.
- India is the fourth largest car market in Asia.
Latest News in the Industry:
The latest in the world of Indian
Automobile Companies are:
- Hyderabad is coming up with the first automobile mall of the country by 2008. It will also comprise a multi-purpose convention center and product launches.
- The latest car in the Indian Automobile Industry is the Tata Nano. It costs approx US$ 2,500. While Bugatti Veyron, another new car, costs over US$ 2 million.
- Facts have revealed that the Automobile Industry in India employs 13 million individuals in India. This industry contributes about 3.1% of India's GDP (nominal).
- Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Limited (RNAIPL) is launching its new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, India which is expected to begin operations in 2010.
- India launched its first hybrid car, the sedan Civic by Japan’s Honda Motor Co on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
- Due to levying of additional excise duty by the government, there is a hike in the cost of imported luxury cars.
