The best (and worst) eras of motoring in India | Deep Drive Podcast Ep. 21 | Autocar India

As India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, it's a good time to look back at our motoring history. In this episode of the Autocar Deep Drive Podcast powered by Kotak Mahindra Prime, Hormazd Sorabjee - Editor, Autocar India - and Sergius Barretto - Managing Editor, Autocar India - drive back in time and discuss the cars, people and regulations that shaped the automotive landscape.

Producer: Nikhil Bhatia
Editor: Deven Bhalla
Archives: Shrey Vaid, Lincon Rodrigues, Ganesh Jadhav
Graphics: Rohit Kesarkar, Yuvraj Dhurmekar

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Chapters -
0:00 - Introduction
1:25 - Pre-Independence era
2:23 - Control Age (1947- 1957)
6:33 - Dark Age (1957- 1983)
10:24 - Maruti Age (1983- 1993)
13:55 - Liberalised Age (1993- 2000)
21:58 - Golden Age (2000- 2015)
29:15 - Regulation Age (2015- Present)
31:41 - Landmark cars
37:31 - Looking ahead

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 #independencedayspecial

[gauthamsuhaas]

Watching Hormazd speaking his heart out on cars is pure bliss. I request Autocar to continue this show as long as possible.

[chandan]

Honda City was one of the iconic cars in India.... It made Honda in india.

[dheerajdmoto]

My favourite car Era was 2012-2018
Figo S diesel, Ecosport, Punto Abarth, City Vtec 4th gen, Swift, Polo GT TSI/TDI, Baleno RS, Civic Diesel, Rapid DSG, Polo GTI, Octavia vRS

2nd Best was 2007-2012
Lancer, Accord, Civic, CRV, City, Cedia, Octavia, Laura, Swift

[jereignjayavenhenryjohn]

As a likes I find India automotive history to be interesting. So much better than Malaysia auto history. Get your dream cars or bikes boys and girls before every car, every bike and everything goes electric.

[prabhankatesar]

Hormazd, long time back you had a program where viewers could ask questions about cars and bikes and have their problems solved. I would like you to please again start a program on those lines in the near future.

[jagadishdasari]

Please bring details of what goes into making a car and why not all manufacturers are unable to compete with features at same price point.
Hyundai Vs Maruti Vs Mahindra Vs Tata Vs Citroen

[barfnite]

The merc window switch in the tata estate that always blew and cost 5 k each to replace 😂

[nitinmodi]

As CA Student in 1989 Got the chance to Audit Fiat plant of Kurla and Dombivali Mumai Maharashtra the walchand group.Most of the indian first car in 1985 to 2000 was mostly Maruti.🙏

[psg]

Even Maruti 800 had a waiting period of 2-3 years. People used to sell used 800 cars at the price they bought after using them 2-3 years. New cars had a premium like crazy & you needed to have a connection to get your car early. Later Maruti tapped the Premium market itself by launching TK (TatKal) model at premium price 😊

[humairaalam]

Dear mr hormazd and mr. Sergius, thank you for another wonderful podcast. the first diesel engine (Perkins make) was introduced in the Mahindra cj 500 d Jeep and fc 260 d pick up in 1977. In Feb. 1984 the hm Contessa was launched with the 1489 cc petrol engine with 4 speed manual gearbox from the ambassador. In 1988 the Contessa classic was launched with the 1817 cc Isuzu petrol engine and 5 speed gearbox. this power train was installed in the ambassador from 1996 to 97 onwards.

[sandeshnigam]

Today's Podcast was better.
Both of you guys especially Sergius made good attempt to keep the show balanced. Hormaz was definitely driving the show.


Suggestion regarding few Topics

Many Automobiles company launch product which fails to capture Audience both in city and rural areas.
Few Examples -
Tempo Dreirad
Bajaj PTV,
HM Contessa,
Fiat Sienna,
Mahindra Xylo, Nuvo.

Young India vs Modern Indian Audience taste has evolved.

What are the various challenges in front of Automaker whose cars stood the test of time and aged gracefully.

Because keeping happy the Three to Four Generation of people while designing cars and meeting regulations is not easy.

[MrDebranjandutta]

Growing up as a kid in Kolkata with an Amby, a Premier 118NE and the original Maruti Zen, this episode was very nostalgic. I drive a Punch EV now, so really fortunate to have witnessed the evolution of motoring in our country. Delightful talk this was. Thank you.

[ethanhunt]

When Hormazd speaks, I listen carefully!! He is pure music to ears

[charishraju]

In 1994 I was doing a marketing project at Hindustan Motors in Calcutta..those days many HM dealers were shifting from HM dealerships to other brands gradually…

Management’s one reply was why would we invest in R & D when we are selling all we are producing

[MohantyShan]

Hi sir nice Nostalgia about auto industry post Independence but why did you guys missed out on Sipani automobiles Dolphin and Montana - India’s first diesel hatch

Pls love to hear love to hear thr CKD story during 1982-1984 “ Dolphin” aka Reliant Kitten imports into India while Maruti was gearing up for a launch

[ddr]

Fantastic walk down memory lane! Personallly, having lived through most of the post Independence Era, this podcast was a panoramic view of the Indian auto industry's evolution!

[rajkumarvpost]

I remember my father reading Hormazd's reviews on Indian auto journal in the mid 1980s. His review of a red BMW 3 series in the 1980s was a dream for me

[Aditya-gmuf]

Sobarajee is very smart i watched almost all episode of podcast series

[saurabhaloriya]

The last comments from Mr. Hormazd is so true. We have not gone global yet.

[meetadiu]

Thanks for this podcast . Good to see India’s automotive industry history discussed by Mr. Hormazd who saw the evolution first hand .