India is one of the most populated countries in the world. Given this, it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the largest car manufacturing countries in the world, the fourth largest to be exact. The top car companies in India create and export millions of cars each year.
The primary automobiles made here are of the passenger car and commercial vehicle variety, but there are others as well. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, the annual sales are projected to reach 4 million by 2015.
Join us as we examine the history of the automobile industry in India and some of the top manufacturers in the country.
By Riju K via Wikipedia
A Brief History of India’s Automobile Industry
The very first cars began appearing in India in 1897 and until 1930 there were only imported vehicles in very small numbers to choose from. In the 1940s, India began to show signs of a burgeoning industry. It began with Hindustan which opened in 1942.
To this day a major competitor, Premier was opened in 1944. These companies built GM and Fiat vehicles respectively. Mahindra & Mahindra was next to be opened by two brothers in 1945. This company manufactured Jeep and utility vehicles.
In 1947, India achieved its independence and from there began making a greater effort to build up an automotive industry. To this end, fully built import cars were restricted to encourage more jobs and opportunities for India’s citizens.
The industry continued to be a luxury for some and a means of providing tractors, scooters, or commercial vehicles. Hindustan and Premier were the top companies during the 1980s. In 1986 though, competitors began to arrive.
The government also started the Delhi Auto Expo that year to promote the Indian vehicle industry. It was meant to showcase the innovation, technology, and progress that the industry is making. Let’s explore some of today’s top car companies in the country.
Greg O’Beirne, via Wikipedia
The Top 10 Automobile Companies in India
1. Tata Motors
This leading company in India builds cars, trucks, buses, vans, and even military vehicles. They began in 1945 and opened their headquarters in Mumbai. This company manufactures vehicles in India as well as the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Argentina.
They recently acquired the Jaguar Land Rover and added luxury cars to their repertoire. Currently they employ over 60,000 people.
2. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
This global company is headquartered in Mumbai, India and was created in 1945. They manufacture trucks, commercial vehicles, and both two & four wheelers. They are consistently ranked among the top 10 most trusted brands in India according to the country’s Brand Trust Report.
Among the Fortune 500 companies in India, this one ranks 21. They employ over 34,612 people collectively.
3. Maruti Suzuki
As one of the top companies in India, Maruti Suzuki was founded in 1981 and owns over 37% of the country’s four wheeler market. Every year the company releases innovative new models that put the competition on the defensive. Some of their top models include the Zen, Dzire, SX4, Swift, Wagon E, and omni.
The company is headquartered in Delhi and employs over 6,000 people in total.
4. Hero MotoCorp Ltd
This company manufactures motorcycles and scooters. It was established in 1982 with its headquarters in Delhi. It began as a joint venture between Hero Cycles of India and Honda of Japan. In 2010 Honda moved on from the joint venture and in 2011 the company renamed it self as Hero Motocorp.
Currently the company employs 5,842 people.
5. Bajaj Auto Limited
This company is known for their two wheelers. They began in 1930 with Jamnalal Bajaj running the company. They have over 100 years of experience in the industry and 8,000 employees total. In 2012 the company was added to the top 2,000 companies in the world list by Fortune Magazine.
In India alone it is the second largest two wheeler manufacturer.
6. Ashok Leyland
This is the second largest commercial vehicle maker in India. They were established in 1948 and chose Chennai as the location for their headquarters. They are part of the Hinduja Group and control over 30% of the commercial vehicle market shares.
The company currently employs over 15,812 people.
By S 400 HYBRID via Wikipedia
7. Hyundai
While this is a South Korean car brand, Hyundai has become an established player in the Indian market. The company started in 1967 and has recently become a major player in the four wheeler market within India.
Popular models from Hyundai include the i10, and i20 car series of four wheelers. The company is based out of Seoul, South Korea.
8. TVS Motor Company
This Indian company is known for their motorcycles, scooters, and more. They were established in 1978 and are headquartered in Chennai.
9. Eicher Motors
This company was created in 1948 and focuses on manufacturing commercial vehicles. It is a joint venture between the Eicher and Volvo groups. It has over 3,000 employees.
10. Force Motors Ltd.
Finally, Force Motors was established in 1958. They are headquartered in Prune with more than 8,000 employees in their company. Their most popular models are the Trax, Taveleller, Trump, Force One, and the balwan tractor.
There you have it, the top car companies in India. As you can see, this country has placed itself in the top bracket of car companies in the world.
