Why India lacks greater variety in car brands and models | Deep Drive Podcast Ep. 19 | Autocar India

India witnessed record car sales in FY24 but while sales are touching new highs, the number of carmakers and models is declining. Hormazd Sorabjee - Editor, Autocar India - and Sergius Barretto - Managing Editor, Autocar India - discuss the reasons in this episode of the Autocar Deep Drive Podcast powered by Kotak Mahindra Prime.

Editor: Deven Bhalla

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Chapters -
0:00 - Introduction
1:55 - Choice in India vs markets abroad
5:14 - Sedans choice shrinking
7:05 - Budget hatchbacks
7:20 - Why don't we have more brands?
10:30 - Impact of new regulations
21:55 - Carmakers that left India
23:30 - EVs will increase choice
26:00 - Why buyers and carmakers love SUVs
27:00 - No estates in India
28:40 - Hot hatches
29:12 - Cross hatchbacks
30:00 - Chinese carmakers will bring choice
31:20 - The heyday of choice is gone
33:58 - MPV segment
35:11 - Carmakers don't have an appetite for risk
36:37 - The brands we'd love to see

Autocar India is your one-stop source for test drive reviews & comparison tests of every new car and motorcycle launched in India. We also offer a great mix of other automotive content, including weekly news, motor show reports, travelogues and other special features.

#autocarindia #deepdrive #podcast

[autocarindia]

Chapters-
0:00 - Introduction
1:55 - Choice in India vs markets abroad
5:14 - Sedans choice shrinking
7:05 - Budget hatchbacks
7:20 - Why don't we have more brands?
10:30 - Impact of new regulations
21:55 - Carmakers that left India
23:30 - EVs will increase choice
26:00 - Why buyers and carmakers love SUVs
27:00 - No estates in India
28:40 - Hot hatches
29:12 - Cross hatchbacks
30:00 - Chinese carmakers will bring choice
31:20 - The heyday of choice is gone
33:58 - MPV segment
35:11 - Carmakers don't have an appetite for risk
36:37 - The brands we'd love to see

[kunal]

I can listen to Hormazd whole day, as a car enthusiast he is just music to my ears. Clearly way above the other car journalists in a huge way. His knowledge and experience in this field is unmatchable.

[dileepaditya]

Finally, someone is talking about issues in sub 4m policy. And yeah, most of the cars are pseudo SUVs. Basically, raised Hatchs!

[kt]

This single podcast series is exponentially better than the sum of videos from all those YouTubers who don't even read the car brochure properly and start shouting things like 'Door thud is not great, its not a safe car bro'

[Aditya-gmuf]

Because in India people buy things which bought by friends and relatives . Wagnor and splendor . They like similar things

[manavsharma]

Can Supreme Court explain on how much money was paid to them by auto makers makers to put a vehicle rule of 10 and 15 years even for private middle class car buyer who can only buy a car only once in their lifetime.. by the time they reach their retirement age, they will not be offered finance for car buying…. Supreme Court sucks and deserves a kick on their back…

[shamramachandran]

Subaru!! Would love to have this brand in India. Loved the Forester when it was launched in India by Chevrolet.

[mohithmaddineni]

Simple reason, high import duties for any new brand to enter and be competitive. Unless they setup their manufacturing in India, they can’t compete locally. Which leaves us with few brands and few mass market models.

[PeggyDez]

Thanks for putting this out there. I genuinely thought I was the only one who felt this. Been looking for a small sedan lately, but I can only see a Hyundai Aura and Honda Amaze. Both of which are nice, but not well proportioned in my opinion. I miss the days where we had the Ikon, Lancer, City, Aveo etc etc.

There's not much choice for sedans under 8 lacs.

[aryaraj_]

i have been watching Autocar India since 2015 but i must say this particular podcast series has quickly gone on to become my very favourite in all of YouTube. so many new insights, perspectives, arguments and industry practices to learn! thank you so much, hormazd, sergius and ketan.

[shahrukhsulthan]

Been thinking my whole life why we have very less car brands in india.thank u autocar india for answering all my questions

[samsungeee]

India lost wagon concept, which has more boot space and more practicality. Other markets has even fabia and golf in wagon model.

[kaustubh]

Finally some one said this and put forth

[admirableamit]

Seriously, you were band on. I drive Ford Figo 1.5 TDCI and if I plan to switch similar car. Literlly I don't find any comparable options. I don't know what to choose next.

[autocarindia]

Prefer to hear the Autocar India Deep Drive Podcast? Listen on:

[inpursuitofhappiness]

Same is happening with mobile phones
Businesses love monopoly and love to play on brand bias, because that's the easiest way to lure people to buy rather than innovating
Customers are impacted most

Anywhere there is monopoly, there is a big problem

[parakimurli]

Next era of VW and Skoda in automobile industry in India.
I just love them.

[harshitbaweja]

India misses out on mass market brands brands like GM, Ford, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi.

[Trackandshield]

The truth is average ticket value in india is still 8-10 lakh which is around 10k dollars and American and European countries barebone car starts at atleast 20k dollars. So why would they come here?

[chandermotwani]

Awesome podcast & rightly pointed out sub 4 meter rule is stopping many cars to launch & also stopping global brands to come to India. Government should kick out the sub 4 meter rule and also not heavily tax car manufacturers. Volkswagen can bring SEAT, Fiat should be back. MAZDA, OpelVauxhall, Peugeot, and there many others brands that can come in India if the complicated tax structure gets eased out 💯🤘🏻👌🏼🚗