Story of Automobile in India

The first wheel roll on Indian road was early in 1897. In 1901 Jamshedji Tata was the first Indian to own a car. As in early years India didn’t have any automotive manufacturing capability, so the automobiles were imported. In 1942, the Hindustan Motors is one and only car Manufacturer Company in India, founded by the B.M. Birla. After India’s independence, the Government of India shows interest in boosting the automotive sector by encouraging in house manufacturing of automotives.

In 1952, the government appointed the first Tariff Commission, which was came with the purpose to indigenization of the Indian Automobile Industry. The Tariff commission were implemented with policies that exclude companies those with no Indian partners and as well as those who only import materials for assembly. In 1954, due to Tariff Commission implementation few companies decided to move out of India- General Motors, Ford and Rootes Group, which had only assembly plant situated in Mumbai. The Tariff Commission policies has some restrictions that applied on other industries, is known as License Raj, which proves to be greatest undoing for Indian automobile industry.

Passenger, Light and Heavy Duty Vehicles

• Hindustan Motors Collaboration with Morris Motors for manufacturing Morris Oxford series in 1957, which later known as “Hindustan Motor Ambassador”.

• In 15^th November 1950, the first car assembled driven out on road of Madras from Addison’s twin plants by Anantharamakrishnan.
• Premier Automobiles Collaborate with Chrysler for the manufacturing of Dodge, Plymouth and Desoto models and also with Fiat for manufacturing of 1100D series which later known as Premier Padmini.

• Standard Motors Manufacture the Standard atlas passenger van variants.
• Mahindra & Mahindra collaborate with Willys for manufacturing of CJ series.
•  Bajaj Tempo (now known as Force Motors) collaborates with Tempo for manufacturing of Tempo Hanseat, Viking and Hanomag, later known as Tempo Matador.

• The Vehicle Factory Jabalpur manufactured Shaktiman trucks with the assistance of MAN SE a Germany based company.

• Tata Motors Collaborate with Mercedes Benz to manufacture buses and trucks.
  

      Period of 1970s to 1980s

• Low market and most of the collaboration license agreements come to an end.
• Jeeps were largely used by government authorities.
• By the end of decade some developments is done in commercial segment vehicles to enhance the movement of goods.
• Few competitors begin to arrive in 1980s. However, automotive market still dominated by Hindustan Motor and Premier.

Period of 1980s to 1990s

• India continue to depend on its two decades old models as from the beginning of 1970s to the starting of 1980s, India had no new models.
• In 1982 Sipani Dolphin came into scene with without rear doors and plastic body.

•  Government of India let more manufacturers into fray in 1980s.
• The Prime Minister of India- Indira Gandhi in 1984 established the Ordnance Factory which used to manufacture Infantry Combat Vehicles. 
• In 1986, the Government of India organized the first Auto Expo in Delhi to promote the automobile industry.

Post-1990s Motor Liberalisation and Emission Norms

• Multi-National Automakers were allowed to invest in India such as Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai.
• Maruti and Suzuki joint venture to form Maruti Udyog, (now known as Maruti Suzuki). It was the first and successful to new entries in market.
• By 1991 India began to liberalise its automotive sector, as a number of foreign firms also initiated joint venture with Indian companies.
• The variety of options in each automobile segment began to multiply in nineties.
• By 2020, the number of automotive companies increased in Indian market.
• In 2020, the Government of India unveiled the emission standards titled “India2020” which later upgraded to Bharat Stage emission standards. It is similar to European emission standards and implemented in phased.
• Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV), was first implemented in April,2010 in 13 cities – Delhi (NCR), Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, Chennai, Bangalore, Kanpur, Kolkata, Agra, Solapur and Lucknow. And then, in rest of nation in April,2017.
• As by 2019, India is the 4^th largest automotive market in world. And, Indian government announced the BS-VI norms to control air pollution which is in line with international standards.