India is a land of diverse cultures, races, and a religion as well as it is the home of many famous car brands. The world knows Indian car brands due to their quality, price, etc. Indian cars are also exported to other countries; therefore, they have a broad reach of customers worldwide.
A few top Indian car companies are Tata, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra. Apart from that, you can also know about the other Indian car brands too in this article. A total of 15 car companies based in India have been included in the list. Indian cars are known for their style and quality; therefore, many countries demand Indian cars nowadays.
We have included many old car companies that are no longer working, but still, their cars are popular. Indian car companies are one of the largest car makers. India is also known as a hub for exporting cars to many countries. Without further ado, let’s have a look at the best Indian car brands.
The top 15 Indian Car Brands are based on their sales, quality, demand, and many other things listed below.
List of Popular Indian Car Brands that are active Now:
- Tata Motors
- Maruti Suzuki
- Hindustan Motors Limited
- Ashok Leyland Limited
- Mahindra & Mahindra
- Chinkara Motors Private Limited
- Opel India Private Limited
- Eicher Motors Limited
- Bajaj Auto Limited
- Force Motors
- Premier Ltd
- ICML
- Swaraj Mazda
- Standard Motor
- Hyderabad Alwyn Limited
Let’s explore List of Best Indian Cars Brand in more depth.
Tata Motors
Tata Motors is the fourth leading automobile manufacturing company in India. It was founded in 1945 and now has a presence in more than 100 countries around the world. Its sales of over $6 billion annually. Tata Motors employs about 46,000 people worldwide and produces nearly 1 million vehicles every year. The company’s head office is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Its shares are traded on both BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE (National Stock Exchange).
Tata Motors was founded by Jamshedji Tata. The company’s initial name was Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Ltd or TELCO. The name was changed to Tata Motors in 2003.
Jamshedji Tata was the father of Indian industry. He has not only founded Tatas but also several other companies that are now household names in India. Some of them are Titan Industries, Voltas Ltd., JRD-Tata group, etc.
The famous models of Tata Motors are as follows.
The Tata Nano is a small, low-cost car, which was created in 2009. It was created to cater to the needs of Indian consumers who wanted a cheap automobile. It is the least expensive mass-produced car in the world with a price tag of only 100,000 rupees.
The Tata Indica is a family car that was first produced in 1998 by Tata Motors. It was one of the corporation’s first mass-produced passenger cars. The Indica is still being produced today under license in several countries around the world.
The Tata Safari is an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) based on the same platform as the Indica and manufactured since 1998. The original version has been replaced by the Safari Storme, which was released in 2012. The first generation model entered production under the original name of Safari. Later it was renamed Storme in 2012.
The Tata Sumo is a mid-size SUV produced by the Indian carmaker since 1994. It was initially going to be named the Sumo Grande, but the name was changed for marketing reasons before its release. Since its inception in 1994, the Sumo has undergone several major changes and generations, including an updated exterior appearance.
Some other models of the Tata company are Tata Nano Twist, Tata Bolt, Tata Zest, Tata Aria, Tata Manza, and many more.
Tata Motors was named by Fortune as one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For. It is also included in Forbes Asia’s Fab 50 list of best-managed companies. It is number two on Foreign Policy Magazine’s list of Top 100 Global Thinkers.
Maruti Suzuki
Maruti Suzuki is the “world’s most trusted car company,” according to Forbes and one of India’s largest. Founded in 1982 by Indian industrialist Anand Mahindra, it has since become the country’s leading manufacturer of passenger cars. It is currently ranked as the second-largest carmaker in India.
The company grew rapidly under Anand Mahindra’s leadership. Soon they were exporting vehicles to Africa and other developing countries. Currently, the company has interests in automobiles, information technology, hospitality, agribusiness, aerospace engineering, etc.
It employs over 2 lakh people across 100 different companies.
Some famous models of Maruti Suzuki cars are Swift, Ritz, A-Star, Alto 800, and WagonR.
Swift is one of the top-selling cars in India, and it has been exported to over 80 countries around the world. It is manufactured as a 5-door hatchback and as a 4-door sedan.
Ritz is a compact car and is available in both petrol and diesel engines. It is a 5-seater and has been exported to over 65 countries around the world.
Another well-known Maruti Suzuki model is the A-star, which was launched in 2008, which is exported to African countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia. It is also popular in the Philippines.
The Ciaz model was launched in 2014, and it outsold the City for the first time in 2015.
Alto 800 is another popular car manufactured by Maruti Suzuki. It has been exported to many countries around the world.
The WagonR is another well-known example of Maruti Suzuki. It is mainly manufactured in India and exported to many countries around the world.
The A-star, Ritz, and Swift are also produced in China by its partner Changan Automobile Group. Last year more than 1 million cars were sold worldwide by this company. Those cars include the famous models SX4, Alto, and Celerio.
Maruti Suzuki is also currently producing mini trucks as well as a minibus (Maruti Omni).
In the fiscal year 2015-16 alone, Maruti Suzuki manufactured over four million vehicles! That’s one car made every 40 seconds. There are many car companies in India, but they didn’t manage to reach such success as Maruti Suzuki did. It would be interesting to follow future developments and see how this company will continue to grow and contribute even more to India’s economy.
Hindustan Motors Limited
Hindustan Motors Limited is the oldest motor company in India and one of the largest manufacturers of jeeps in Asia. It was established in 1942 by B.M Birla in partnership with Morris Motors. In 1944, he bought an old sheet metal-working plant near Lahore to manufacture bodies, but soon they started making complete cars by buying Dorman engines from England and CKD kits for British Willys Jeeps.
The first car rolled out of their Uttarpara plant near Kolkata in 1947, called Hindustan 10, had a four-cylinder engine of 1940 cc capacity capable of 90 bhp at 3600 rpm. And was front-wheel drive. The suspension was rigid with leaf springs in front and a beam axle with semi-trailing arms at the rear.
Later, HML developed the first indigenously built ‘Utility Vehicle’ called ‘HAWAN.’ This vehicle had four-wheel drive capability but was not very popular as it needed the continuous use of low gear for hill climbing.
Hindustan has also diversified into bus building, car engine production (petrol & diesel), agricultural equipment manufacturing, etc.
Some models of Hindustan Motor Car Company are:
Hindustan Ambassador (successor to the Hindustan 10, which was renamed ‘Hindustan Sedan’), Commodore, Deccan, Cheetah, Stallion, Eagle, Bolero, Pajero, Samurai.
Ambassador is a car that was once introduced as a luxury car by Hindustan Motors in India. The company manufactured this from the year 1957 to the year 2002 and is still being produced for other countries.
The Ambassador has been one of the most popular cars in India, with over 2 lakh units sold since its launch. The car was used by all Indian Prime Ministers until it stopped production in the year 2003 and was replaced by a new face, the Mahindra Scorpio.
Bolero is a versatile 4WD vehicle by Hindustan Motors Limited, which makes it suitable for traveling in difficult terrains and climatic conditions. It is also known as MUV (multi-utility vehicle) by the company and was launched in 2000. The Bolero has the good ground clearance and can stand high speeds when compared to other SUVs.
The production of the Hindustan Contessa began in 1984. After a long run until 2002, its production was discontinued. Contessa was regarded as a luxury vehicle. At the time, it was aimed at those who desired an alternative to the regular Ambassador and Padmini models.
Hindustan Trekker, Landmaster, Veer, Hindustan 14, etc. are ruling the market at that time.
That’s all we have for Hindustan Motors Limited Car Company.
Ashok Leyland Limited
Ashok Leyland Limited is a defense and limited liability company that deals in the manufacture of commercial vehicles, buses, defense systems, and related infrastructural projects. It was initially established by Raghunandan Saran as a private limited company in 1948. The founder had seen an opportunity to provide Indian markets with quality products at competitive prices. He also saw the benefits of manufacturing for exports to foreign markets, thereby increasing the economy’s strength.
Ashok Leyland manufactures a wide range of commercial vehicles, which includes heavy, medium, and light commercial vehicles. The company also offers buses for both intracity and intercity transport. Intercity buses are known as Ashok Leyland Royal Cruiser, while the intracity ones are called Cheetah AC buses.
Ashok Leyland had a production capacity of 111,000 units per year from its plants in Chennai and Hosur, with over 2000 employees working round the clock to meet this demand.
The famous cars of Ashok Leylands include Stallion, LCVs like Bada Dost, Dost Truck, MitR school bus, etc. Other than these, Ashok Leyland produced strong military vehicles.
Stallion Kavach was initially designed for the Indian Army, and it did well in the Army’s tests. The Thar then went to the civilian market and was a good performer there as well.
The Defence Segment manufactures military vehicles that comply with international safety norms for defense applications. It also provides products like weapon carriers, fuel tankers, water browsers, and mine ploughs apart from other custom-made solutions for India’s defense forces. Products are exported to militaries around the world, including many friendly nations.
Mahindra & Mahindra
Mahindra & Mahindra is a leading manufacturer of tractors, SUVs, and utility vehicles in the global market. Established in 1945 by Jamnalal Bajaj, it now has over 7,000 dealerships across the world, with a presence in more than 160 countries. Its subsidiary companies include Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd., Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Limited (MHRIL), Berger Paints, and Transworld Associates (India) Private Limited.
It has three manufacturing bases in India – the main plant at Nashik; another unit at Thiruvallur near Chennai; and one more at Dharuhera in Haryana.
M&M was established by the late K.C.Mahindra in 1945 as a steel trading business under the name of M&M Limited. Jamnalal Bajaj was one of its first recruits, and it soon became a leading distributor for Ford tractors manufactured by Minnesota-based Ford Tractor Company.
In 1954, Ford Tractor Co. changed its distribution policy, resulting in the termination of the dealership agreement between them and M&M Ltd. It is then that Mahindra & Mahindra acquired manufacturing rights for International Harvester farm equipment from Deutz-Fahr.
The famous models of M&M company are Bolero, Scorpio, Xylo, TUV 300, and XUV 500.
Scorpio jeep is the flagship of the M&M company. Scorpio is the first indigenously developed sport utility vehicle which has made Mahindra & Mahindra widely known in the Indian automotive industry.
Xylo is a robust SUV launched on January 13, 2009. It is available in petrol and diesel versions with a choice of manual or automatic transmission.
TUV 300 is a luxury Sports Utility Vehicle that will be launched by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. It has six variants ranging from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 17.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
XUV 500 is a mid-size SUV that was launched by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. in 2011. It has five variants ranging from Rs 14 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. It is good for long drives and performs best on highways as well as off-road.
The company entered the heavy & medium trucks segment with the production of 666 units of 6×4 Rigid Truck. Later, trucks like Bolero pickup, Blazo, Furio, Jeeto were added to their product lineup.
Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd manufactures scooters, motorcycles, and mopeds under the brand names like Centuro, Gusto, Mojo, Rodeo, Flyte, Duro, Etc. The range of products includes automatic scooter (Centuro), high capacity commuter (Gusto), high-speed motorcycle (Torque DI 200/300).
Chinkara Motors Private Limited
Chinkara Motors Private Limited is a car company that provides quality and affordable cars to the people of India. The company was founded in 1960 and strives to create a sustainable future for themselves and their consumers. They’re focused on providing quality cars with great customer service, so you get the best bang for your buck.
The current directors of Chinkara Motors are Shama Bothe and Guido Wilhelm Bothe, who are passionate entrepreneurs with an extensive background in the automobile industry. He has always wanted to create fast and affordable cars for Indian consumers while ensuring safe driving conditions.
Four decades later, they’ve grown into a large family-owned business with over 50 branches throughout India and annual revenue of more than 700 crore rupees (~100 million USD). The group now specializes in automobile components, aftermarket parts, equipment leasing, training centers, used cars, new car sales, and auto finance.
Chinkara Motors Private Limited has manufactured thousands of vehicles that offer consumers a reliable and affordable way to get around town. They’re constantly innovating and upgrading their models, so you’ll need to keep your eye on them if you want to get your hands on one of their beautiful cars!
The cars they produce are pretty impressive. They’re sleek and sporty while still offering some pretty awesome features. Best of all, they’re not super expensive like most luxury cars on the market today.
Chinkara Motors manufactures car models like the Chinkara Hammer, Rockstar, Roadster, Beachster.
Chinkara Hammer is designed for the Indian Forces. Sandrails, also called sand rails, are lightweight off-road cars designed to travel on sandy terrain. It is a fast attack and patrolling vehicle for sandy terrain.
Rockster is an all-terrain vehicle. Low-pressure tires make it possible for them to travel over rough terrain.
Recreational motor vehicles with wide wheels are known as Roadsters, and they are designed to be used on sand dunes, beaches, roads, or in the desert.
Beachster is a vehicle powered by the wind. A wind-powered vehicle uses sails, kites, or rotors to generate power and is propelled by the wind.
That’s a quick overview of the models available from Chinkara Motors Private Limited.
Opel India Private Limited
Opel India Private Limited is a car-making company based in Gurgaon. The company is the subsidiary of Groupe PSA, which is one of the largest automakers by volume in Europe.
Opel has been a part of GM since 1929, and they have been the biggest carmaker in Germany from the 1930s to the 1970s. After then, General Motors decided to terminate its long-term association with Opel due to the financial crisis at that time. Opel was then purchased by the French carmaker, PSA Peugeot Citroen, in March 2017.
Opel started its operation in India back in 1996 with imported cars and has made headway since then, starting its production unit last 2014. Not only does it make high-end luxury automobiles like the Zafira Tourer (MUV), but also mass-market mini-city models like the Adam.
It is headquartered in Gurgaon and has assembly plants in Halol (Gujarat) and Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). It makes cars for the European market as well as for the Indian market. It sold a total of 126,868 units last year and aimed at selling more than 200,000 units this year globally.
The famous models produced by Opel are the Corsa, Astra, Mokka, and the Zafira. The company also has a small presence in India’s booming SUV market with its MUV offering, the Crossland X.
Corsa is the entry-level offering from the company aimed at first-time car buyers. It is available in more than 80 countries around the world. There are two engine options – a 1-liter petrol motor with 75PS of power and a 0.9 turbo diesel, which makes 85PS of power.
The Astra comes as an all-rounder, with its performance and safety credentials making it a hot favorite amongst Indian car buyers.
On the other hand, the Zafira Tourer is aimed at minivan buyers. It is big inside out. The car offers great space and comfort, along with engine options that offer good performance.
Mokka is one of the company’s own versions of an SUV, which has done well in its price segment in European markets. Apart from the wide range of cars it manufactures, Opel India Private Limited offers after-sales service through a dealer network across 174 locations in 106 cities with 445 workshops.
Opel has most recently introduced its most affordable car yet – the Opel Corsa. The company is also in the process of rolling out a new lineup.
Eicher Motors Limited
Eicher Motors Limited is a leading manufacturer of tractors and commercial vehicles. Their products are sold in more than 150 countries worldwide, and their manufacturing facilities cover an area of one million square meters spread over four locations in India. The Company has been catering to the needs of customers since 1948, and they’ve never stopped innovating or pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with their creativity.
Eicher was founded by Vikram Lal, a man who had a dream to make India self-sufficient in the manufacturing of every kind of transport vehicle. After starting with scooters and motorcycles, he first worked on building some life-changing agricultural equipment before moving onto cars.
In 2008, Eicher Motors Limited was formed as a joint venture between VE Group, Ashok Leyland, and Royal Dutch Shell. Today, it’s one of the largest manufacturers in India and among the top 10 tractor makers worldwide!
The top-selling vehicles of the Eicher group are tractors, buses, trucks, and utility vehicles. Among them, the Eicher Tractor is the best selling product of the Company in India, with a market share of around 22 percent in the Indian tractor sector.
The following are some of Eicher Motors’ most renowned vehicles.
Eicher Pro 2049: This is a high-end model of the Company and features an engine with 100 HP at @3200 RPM, enhanced fuel efficiency, and an excellent power to weight ratio. The truck also has 4995 kg of GVW. Its payload is 2.6 Ton. It comes with an aerodynamic cabin of 1.8 m wide.
Eicher 312: This is also a very popular model of the Company and features a top speed of 30 KMPH and power to weight ratio of 30 BHP per tonne. The tractor has 4×4 steering, which makes it suitable for operating in fields where there are obstacles, such as ditches or tree stumps which can obstruct the way.
The Company has a wide reach, and the vehicles are used in every sector, from agriculture to mining. Their tractors can be seen at construction sites, where they’re used for carrying building materials or transporting earth & stones. In the forestry sector, too, these vehicles play an indispensable role because their compact size makes them easy to maneuver through dense vegetation.
Bajaj Auto Limited
Bajaj Auto Limited, a car manufacturer in India founded by Jamnalal Bajaj. It is currently one of the largest two-wheeler manufacturers in the world. Its headquarter is in Pune, Maharashtra.
Today, Bajaj Auto Limited is one of the most valued companies in India. It was founded in Rajasthan in the city of Kolhapur back in 1942. Since then, they have been pioneering in creating world-class motorcycles.
Now when it comes to quality, you can always trust them for producing some of the best two-wheelers in the market today.
Bajaj has introduced their new range of ‘Qute’ scooters that run on hydrogen cells. They plan on launching these scooters by the end of this year. These scooters will do all that a normal gasoline-powered scooter does and will have a range of around 100 km on a single charge. They were inspired by their very own Qute concept, which was showcased all the way back in 2010 at Auto Expo. After five years of refining the technology, they plan on launching it for commercial use very soon.
Some other models of Bajaj Car company are :
Bajaj Avenger – Bajaj Avenger, is a muscle bike from the house of Bajaj. It falls under the category of cruiser bikes. Some notable features of Avenger are torque-assist clutch, upside-down front suspension, and rear mono-shock suspension.
Pulsar is a very popular model from the house of Bajaj Auto Limited. The motorcycle had been ruling the Indian two-wheeler market since its start back in 2012. Two variants: 150cc and 180cc, both share the same power and performance ratios. Their fuel efficiency varies as per government norms laid out for motorcycles.
The new Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 is a sporty version of the regular pulsars. It is powered by an Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC engine with a displacement of 159.7 ccs. It is a modified version of the KTM Duke 200’s engine. The engine has been tuned to deliver more power and torque than the regular Pulsar 150.
Bajaj Dominar is a powerful motorcycle. It is a performance-oriented motorcycle that comes in two variants: 400cc and 350cc. Both these motorcycles share the same engine specifications. Instead of that, their power output differs because of different cams used to tune the engine.
Bajaj Auto Limited has constantly been coming up with new and exciting products that make riding easy and comfortable for Indians.
Force Motors
Force Motors Limited is an Indian Car manufacturing company that was established in 1958. The Company is based out of Pune, Maharashtra, and its current chairman is Mr. N.K. Firodia.
The Company’s major products are Motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, Trucks & Buses under the brand name Force Motors. It has a stronghold on the off-road market with its unique range of Military Vehicles which have been certified as a ‘Made in India’ product by the United States military authority. The Company has meanwhile successfully acquired over 3 million satisfied customers domestically as well as internationally.
Previously, this firm was known as Bajaj Tempo Ltd. In 1960, the Company started its manufacturing activity in a small way with an annual production capacity of 500 Tempos & trucks.
After some years, Bajaj Tempo Ltd. was renamed Force Motors Limited.
In 2011, the Company launched its first indigenous 4X4 Jeep, ‘Force One,’ which is based on a design that was derived from the legendary Jeep. This Car became a major success for Force Motors.
Premier Ltd
Premier Ltd. is one of the leading automobile manufacturers in India, with its headquarters in Mumbai, India. Premier Ltd. was established in 1941. Premier’s parent company is Walchand Group, which was founded by Walchand Hirachand – founder of Hindustan Motors Limited (now Hindustan Ambassador).
The year 1941 marked the beginning of growth for Premier when it launched its first Car, the Premier Padmini – India’s version of the iconic Fiat 1100D. The Company had humble beginnings with its production taking place in leased buildings. It became a major supplier to the Indian Defence forces during the Second World War due to its delivery of over 1,500 vehicles to them.
Over time, Premier has developed several models that have become staples on roads across India which include the Premier 118NE (popularly known as ‘Premier Automobiles Limited’ or ‘PAL’). It was one of their most successful cars before production was stopped in 2014 due to poor sales figures.
Premier Rio is a city car introduced in the year 2012 and sold by Premier Ltd. manufactured in India. The Car was very popular among Indian customers – this, combined with its low price, led to the surge of sales for it.
The brand is one of the country’s oldest automobile manufacturers. Premier cars are considered lower-end compared to other Indian car companies while maintaining a reputation for solidity, low maintenance costs, sturdiness, and longevity. It also manufactures trucks in association with Ashok Leyland.
ICML
ICML Motors is one of India’s most successful automobile manufacturers. It was founded in 2003. Since its inception in 2003, the automobile sector has expanded constantly. The business is named “International Cars and Motors Limited.”
ICML was established as a completely integrated automobile manufacturing unit. It commenced commercial production in April 2006. Today it stands as one of India’s most successful automobile manufacturers with an annual capacity of 30,000 vehicles per annum.
The ICML company mainly manufactures passenger cars and commercial vehicles. These include the hatchback, sedan, and multipurpose vehicle.
The parent company of ICML is the Sonalika Group. ICML was the fourth largest tractor manufacturing company during 2012. Currently, they introduced a MUV which is a better version of Rhino MUV.
These were all the active car brands. Now, let’s explore the car brands that are not present in between us.
Non-active car brands in India:
Swaraj Mazda
Swaraj Mazda is an Indian car company, which was founded in 1983. The headquarters of the company is located in Chandigarh, India.
The parent company of Swaraj Mazda is Sumitomo Corporation. Swaraj Mazda is a joint venture between Mazda and Isuzu corporation.
Swaraj Mazda offers a wide range of popular cars for sale. In the Swaraj Mazda car range, you will find cars from many famous brands. They manufacture trucks, buses, water tankers, cars, and other vehicles.
Swaraj Mazda was famous for making trucks like the Swaraj Mazda Prestige GS, Sartaj GS, etc.
The Sartaj GS was a very popular truck made by Swaraj Mazda. The GS has a running speed of 100 km/h, which is quite fast for a truck.
It is powered by a remarkable and unique ISUZU engine that has been designed with a high compression ratio and a turbocharger which makes it the most powerful diesel engine in its class.
In 2011, Swaraj Mazda closed its service.
Standard Motor
Standards were one of India’s leading automakers specializing in passenger cars. Standard Motor Products was founded in 1948. Its headquarter is present in Tambaram, Chennai, India
The brand’s reputation for reliability and safety earned it a good reputation, and owning a vehicle from the brand is a real privilege for car lovers. Standard Herald Mark 1, Mark II Gazel, and Vanguard are some of the company’s best vehicles.
After long-winding legal disputes, the company stopped producing after being involved in a case that ultimately ended with its closure. Several years later, the factory was auctioned and then completely demolished. That’s all about standard motors. Let’s move to the next car in the list of Non-active India-based car companies: Hyderabad Alwyn Limited.
Hyderabad Alwyn Limited
Hyderabad Alwyn Limited is one of the premier automobile companies that was established in 1942. It has its headquarters in Andhra Pradesh, India. The company’s main area of business is to manufacture and sell cars and provide related services too. Cabstar, the most popular light commercial vehicle at that time, was introduced by the company through a division with Nissan.
The company previously manufactured scooters. The company’s reserves were completely wiped out in the mid-1990s when the company failed to meet production demands. In the end, Hyderabad Allwyn Limited lost Rs. 180 crores. The company went bankrupt and became history on the list of Indian car manufacturing companies.
I hope you got clear insights about some popular car companies based in India. Along with the names of the Indian car companies, we have also added a small description to highlight the things about those companies. It will help you know more about the brand.
I hope this article was informative and interesting to read. If you are passionate about cars or you like cars, then it is necessary that you should know about the top car brands in India. All this information will be useful for you in the future to have a better knowledge of the world of cars.
I would love to hear from you; if there is anything written here that needs clarification, or if I missed something, write down your comment below, and it will be addressed as soon as possible.