RESEARCH PAPERS

Maruti 800: The Legend of the Early Car Industry in India

Efrosini Vizovitou

School of Fine & Visual Arts Thessaloniki

Industrial Design 1. Winter Semester 2018

Tutor: Georgios Liamadis


THE FIRST YEARS

1944-1954

Tata  Engineering and Locomotive Company ( TELCO)

  • Hindustan Motors  (HML) in Calcutta
  • Premier Automobiles  (PAL) in Bombay

1953

Prohibition of car imports for toning up of the local industry

Early 80s

Production remained at 40,000 cars per year

  • The government has rejected collaborations with HML-Isuzu, PAL-Nissan, and TELCO-Honda
Hindustan Ambassador MK1 (1958)
Premiere Automobile Fiat or Padmini (1964)
Tata (Telco) first diesel truck (1945)

THE MARUTI REVOLUTION

1971: Maruti Udyong Ltd

Founded by Sanjay Gandhi, the prime minister Indira Gandhi’s son. 

December 1983

  • he first Maruti 800 in partnership with the Japanese Suzuki
  • the first small, low-cost car, suitable for the upcoming middle class
  • the car of the people with only 50,000 rupees
  • 2.87 million sales in the last 30 years
Maruti 800

The elements of its superiority

  • Glossy and aerodynamic, it draws the attention
  • 3 different models

-Standard without air conditioning

-Air-conditioned model

-Deluxe with leather, velvet and extras on the inside

  • Unique characteristics

-Innovative in front motion

– Discs for front wheels

– Four doors

– Head restraints

– Three-point safety belts

Marouti 800

Recommended video:

The story of Maruti 800 in India- How it all started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV8-TxnZSbU

References

  • Ishigami, E. (2004). Competition and Corporate Strategy in the Indian Automobile Industry with Special Reference to Maruti Udyog limited and Suzuki Motors. Conference: A Comparison of Japanese firm and Korean firm in Indian Automobile Market, pp. 291-314.
  • Kale, D. (2012). Sources of Innovation and Technological Capability Development in the Indian Automobile Industry. Institutions and Economics, 4.2, pp. 121-150.
  • Sagar, A. and Chandra, P. (2004). Technological Change in the Indian Passenger Car Industry. BCSIA Discussion Paper, Energy Technological Innovation Project. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
  • Sarwade, W.K. (2012). Evolution and Growth of the Indian Automobile Industry. Journal of Management and Economics, 1.3, pp. 93-101.
  • Sasi, A. (2014). Maruti Suzuki 800: The Car with no Name. The Financial  Express. Retrieved on 19/12/2018 at 
  • https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/maruti-suzuki-800-the-car-with-no-name/1228567/