Markets have opened up in India in the last decade and luxury cars have come flying in. Customer flock the showrooms of even Nissan and Volkswagen nowadays. But, if on a normal day you are asked to name 5 Indian car companies / Indian Car brands/ India car manufacturers. you will stop at 2 or maybe three at best and car reviews and comparison of these cars are not available either. So here's some information of the cars makers of India who are alive and kicking.
1. http://www.tatamotors.com/
Tata Motors: Ok, you know about Tata. They made Indians proud with the Nano and purchase of JLR. The new Indica Vista and Indigo Manaza are not built good enough to stand with the best in business. The Grande and Safari still look good and show Tata's UV past. Tata has evolved into one strong car maker and with a JV with Fiat in place, things are just looking better.
Cars on offer
Tata nano
Tata Indica V2
Tata Indica Vista
Tata Indigo CS
Tata Indigo Marina
Tata Indigo XL
Tata Indigo Manza
Tata Safari
Tata Sumo
Tata Grande MKII
Tata TL 4X4
Tata Xenon 4X4
My pick: Tata Xenon 4X4/ TL 4X4, Tata Indigo Manza, Tata Indica Vista
Suggestion: bring in automatic transmissions for your cars.
2. http://www.mahindra.com/index.asp
Mahindra&Mahindra: Who doesnt know mahindra? The maker of the classic Jeep (FYI Jeep is a brand in itself owned by Chrysler USA now a part of Fiat and Government of USA :P). The scorpio changed the way the world looked at Mahindra. After gaining technical input from FORD (Shhh...) during their collabration over the Ford Escort days, Mahindra decided to do a tata. The xylo was another shot in the arm and Mahindra is suddenly the uber cool brand from who doesnt hail from the village anymore. An almost failed marraige with Renault brought in the Logan but otherwise Mahindra is yet to get a Sedan in its lineup. Until then Mahindra will make do with 'largest selling UV' tag for it's Bolero.
cars on offer.
Mahindra Renault Logan
Mahindra Thar
Mahindra Scorpio
Mahindra Getaway
Mahindra Xylo
Mahindra Bolero
Mahindra Bolero Camper
Mahindra Commander
Mahindra Maxx
Mahindra Major
My Picks: Mahindra Thar, Mahindra Scorpio Automatic, Mahinra Logan Diesel.
Suggestion: Where are the sedans an Hatches? Start with a hatch.
3. http://www.icml.co.in/
ICML: International Cars and Motors Limited is one of the latest entrats on the Indian Automobile scene. The Rhino has done well but not well enough to justify the launch of the small car ICML has waiting in the wings. The makers of the Sonalika Tractors are still going strong with building a widespraed dealer network. The cars are improving regularly and so are the engines. The Rhino like all other Indian cars had handling issues and received tuition from Lotus UK and now with Rover's new engine is ready to sell,
cars on offer
ICML Rhino
ICML Inspire (waiting for release)
My pick: Icml Rhino TCDI, ICML Inspire
My suggestion: Bring in the Inspire fast.
4. http://www.premier.co.in/wb/
Premier: Remember the Padmini's? The Maharashtra based maker of Padmini's and 118NE is back and how. With support from the Chinese, I am not really that impressed but Premier has chosen a good car and platform to begin with. The rio is a nice car and more cars are on paper atleast. Fit a finish is not its forte but VFM and utility are. For a small car buyer looking for a small SUV, look no further.
Cars on offer
Premier RIO
Premier Sigma
My pick: Premier Rio
Suggestion: Provide service and spares for Padmini's. It will earn you money and reputation. A small sedan will be a nice addition considering the financial muscle permits.
5. http://www.revaglobal.com/
Reva: A small Bangalore startup which was one of the instrumental makers to get the e-car ball rolling. Recent cars look like toys and Reva is all but absent in the country it is manufactured. But the new NXR and NXG models are coming to change this. With a new battery technology for better range and design by the renowned DC (Dilip Chabbaria Designs) the new Reva is faster than the word go.
Cars on offer
Reva NXR
Reva NXG
Reva I
My pick: Reva NXR, Reva NXG
Suggestion: Realing the dealership network and make it available for sale at a good price.
6. http://www.forcemotors.com
Force Motors: Not well known by their current name but many will jump if I say Tempo, Trax or Bajaj. The company has gone through numerous name changes it seems but the models are yet to see revisions. They are stuck in a stage similar to Pre Scorpio Mahindra's. The best step would be to merge with Eicher which doesnt have a small trucks platfrom but that is wishful thinking. Excellent off-roaders though.
cars on offer.
Trax Gama
Trax Gurkha
My pick: Trax Gurkha
Suggestion: Merge with Eicher and look at your pick-up and truck platforms rise along with Siddharth Lal. That man is a magician. For starters please Update both the cars with better quality interiors and some kit.
7. http://www.hindmotor.com/
Hindustan Motors: Once the GM of India, HM was the largest car maker selling the Ambassador. Contessa came and went much before its time. What followed was a timewarp and HM never brought in a new vehicle. The good side is that the Ambassador car is more customizable that any other model on offer but the flip side is now even the grandpa's dont want one.
Cars on offer.
Hindustan Ambassador petrol
Hindustan Ambassador Diesel 2.0
Hindustan Ambassador Diesel 1.5
Hindustan Ambassador CNG
Suggestion: Refresh the Hindustan Contessa for the luxury market and bring in an ambassador hatch if funds are tight. Otherwise a sports car based on lotus chassis is perfect.
8. http://www.sanmotors.com/
San Motors: It hardly is a car company in operation. Nobody knows if they sell anymore or not, but the website is still up and so is the contact info. While plans were to make 3 cars, only one had come up for sale years ago. Never seen another in 5 years. Just a paper dream nowadays.
Cars on offer
San Storm
My pick: Uhmmm. Pass
Suggestion: Plonk a turbo, add better body panels with good finish and relaunch at the same price tag.
1. http://www.tatamotors.com/
Tata Motors: Ok, you know about Tata. They made Indians proud with the Nano and purchase of JLR. The new Indica Vista and Indigo Manaza are not built good enough to stand with the best in business. The Grande and Safari still look good and show Tata's UV past. Tata has evolved into one strong car maker and with a JV with Fiat in place, things are just looking better.
Cars on offer
Tata nano
Tata Indica V2
Tata Indica Vista
Tata Indigo CS
Tata Indigo Marina
Tata Indigo XL
Tata Indigo Manza
Tata Safari
Tata Sumo
Tata Grande MKII
Tata TL 4X4
Tata Xenon 4X4
My pick: Tata Xenon 4X4/ TL 4X4, Tata Indigo Manza, Tata Indica Vista
Suggestion: bring in automatic transmissions for your cars.
2. http://www.mahindra.com/index.asp
Mahindra&Mahindra: Who doesnt know mahindra? The maker of the classic Jeep (FYI Jeep is a brand in itself owned by Chrysler USA now a part of Fiat and Government of USA :P). The scorpio changed the way the world looked at Mahindra. After gaining technical input from FORD (Shhh...) during their collabration over the Ford Escort days, Mahindra decided to do a tata. The xylo was another shot in the arm and Mahindra is suddenly the uber cool brand from who doesnt hail from the village anymore. An almost failed marraige with Renault brought in the Logan but otherwise Mahindra is yet to get a Sedan in its lineup. Until then Mahindra will make do with 'largest selling UV' tag for it's Bolero.
cars on offer.
Mahindra Renault Logan
Mahindra Thar
Mahindra Scorpio
Mahindra Getaway
Mahindra Xylo
Mahindra Bolero
Mahindra Bolero Camper
Mahindra Commander
Mahindra Maxx
Mahindra Major
My Picks: Mahindra Thar, Mahindra Scorpio Automatic, Mahinra Logan Diesel.
Suggestion: Where are the sedans an Hatches? Start with a hatch.
3. http://www.icml.co.in/
ICML: International Cars and Motors Limited is one of the latest entrats on the Indian Automobile scene. The Rhino has done well but not well enough to justify the launch of the small car ICML has waiting in the wings. The makers of the Sonalika Tractors are still going strong with building a widespraed dealer network. The cars are improving regularly and so are the engines. The Rhino like all other Indian cars had handling issues and received tuition from Lotus UK and now with Rover's new engine is ready to sell,
cars on offer
ICML Rhino
ICML Inspire (waiting for release)
My pick: Icml Rhino TCDI, ICML Inspire
My suggestion: Bring in the Inspire fast.
4. http://www.premier.co.in/wb/
Premier: Remember the Padmini's? The Maharashtra based maker of Padmini's and 118NE is back and how. With support from the Chinese, I am not really that impressed but Premier has chosen a good car and platform to begin with. The rio is a nice car and more cars are on paper atleast. Fit a finish is not its forte but VFM and utility are. For a small car buyer looking for a small SUV, look no further.
Cars on offer
Premier RIO
Premier Sigma
My pick: Premier Rio
Suggestion: Provide service and spares for Padmini's. It will earn you money and reputation. A small sedan will be a nice addition considering the financial muscle permits.
5. http://www.revaglobal.com/
Reva: A small Bangalore startup which was one of the instrumental makers to get the e-car ball rolling. Recent cars look like toys and Reva is all but absent in the country it is manufactured. But the new NXR and NXG models are coming to change this. With a new battery technology for better range and design by the renowned DC (Dilip Chabbaria Designs) the new Reva is faster than the word go.
Cars on offer
Reva NXR
Reva NXG
Reva I
My pick: Reva NXR, Reva NXG
Suggestion: Realing the dealership network and make it available for sale at a good price.
6. http://www.forcemotors.com
Force Motors: Not well known by their current name but many will jump if I say Tempo, Trax or Bajaj. The company has gone through numerous name changes it seems but the models are yet to see revisions. They are stuck in a stage similar to Pre Scorpio Mahindra's. The best step would be to merge with Eicher which doesnt have a small trucks platfrom but that is wishful thinking. Excellent off-roaders though.
cars on offer.
Trax Gama
Trax Gurkha
My pick: Trax Gurkha
Suggestion: Merge with Eicher and look at your pick-up and truck platforms rise along with Siddharth Lal. That man is a magician. For starters please Update both the cars with better quality interiors and some kit.
7. http://www.hindmotor.com/
Hindustan Motors: Once the GM of India, HM was the largest car maker selling the Ambassador. Contessa came and went much before its time. What followed was a timewarp and HM never brought in a new vehicle. The good side is that the Ambassador car is more customizable that any other model on offer but the flip side is now even the grandpa's dont want one.
Cars on offer.
Hindustan Ambassador petrol
Hindustan Ambassador Diesel 2.0
Hindustan Ambassador Diesel 1.5
Hindustan Ambassador CNG
Suggestion: Refresh the Hindustan Contessa for the luxury market and bring in an ambassador hatch if funds are tight. Otherwise a sports car based on lotus chassis is perfect.
8. http://www.sanmotors.com/
San Motors: It hardly is a car company in operation. Nobody knows if they sell anymore or not, but the website is still up and so is the contact info. While plans were to make 3 cars, only one had come up for sale years ago. Never seen another in 5 years. Just a paper dream nowadays.
Cars on offer
San Storm
My pick: Uhmmm. Pass
Suggestion: Plonk a turbo, add better body panels with good finish and relaunch at the same price tag.
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