Cars then vs now, how auto sector evolved after independence

Pre and post-independence cars: The automotive industry has evolved in India. With the evolution of technology, there have been advancements in the automotive sector as well. In the pre-independence era, during British governance, owning a car was a very big aspect at that time. Only a handful of wealthy people could afford to own a vehicle at those times. Luxury cars from some of the biggest names in the automobile industry including Rolls-Royce were imported and used by only the rich. These vintage cars, despite their limited availability, had a big impact on the general population. Since India received Independence in 1947, the market for automobiles has also improvised and many Indian manufacturers came forward to manufacture cars for the consumers in India.

Let us have a deep dive into the evolution of India’s automotive landscape from the pre-independence era to the present-day scenario of the automotive industry:

Pre-Independence era:

During the pre-independence era, British rule had laid heavy taxes, and owning a car for a middle-class person was not an easy job. Only the rulers of the princely states or provinces used to own cars or wealthy business owners who could afford cars. At that time only a handful of cars were available in the country. Some of the famous models of those times are the 1935 Delahaye 135MS, the 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental, 1931 Lancia Dilambda. Rolls Royce of those times used to offer a luxurious experience and was mainly owned by high officials of the state or the rulers.

Post-Independence era:

Since India received independence in 1947, the evolution of the automotive sector began. Indian corporates from Mahindra to the Tata group geared up and fabricated some models that turned out to be ageless beauties. Since then the evolution in the sector has given some timeless cars like the Hindustan Ambassador, Mahindra Jeep CJ, Maruti 800, Mahindra Scorpio, Hyundai Santro, etc. Hindustan Motors Contessa was the first indigenous muscle car of India and Tata Indica was the first indigenously manufactured car in India.

Independence Day 2024:

This 78th Independence Day will witness some great launches in India’s automotive industry. The automotive industry in 2024 has a more inclination for SUVs as they provide a great road presence and are one of the key driving factors for sales in India. India’s leading SUV manufacturer, Mahindra will be launching the much-awaited Thar Roxx on the occasion of Independence Day. The Mahindra Thar was launched back in 2020 on the occasion of the Independence Day and was an instant hit among the consumers.

Source: Republicbiz