Indian auto industry has a potpourri of models gliding over the Indian roads. Reportedly, the first car rolled out in the streets of Mumbai (then called Bombay) was back in 1898 and since then, the auto market has moved many miles ahead. In the early stages, the Indian auto industry was overlooked by the central government and policies framed at that time were not so favourable for the car makers.
However, the tax relief and liberalisation policy adopted by the Indian government in recent years has led a significant impact on the automotive industry. As per reports, the Indian market is growing at around 18 per cent yearly and thus, has become a hot spot for the foreign auto makers. Following this, the market is flooded with a large number of models and therefore, there is a critical need to categorise them according to their size and engine displacements.
Industry experts have segregated the complete auto industry in three different segments, namely A, B and C, wherein 'A' stands for passenger cars, 'B' for Utility Vehicles (UVs) and 'C' for Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). Further, the 'A' segment has been divided into six sub-categories, namely A1 Mini, A2 Compact, A3 Midsize, A4 Executive, A5 Premium and A6 Luxury. The models having a maximum length of 3400 mm are placed in A1 Mini segment, for example Maruti 800 and Tata Nano, while the cars having a length between 3401 mm and 4000 mm are placed in A2 Compact segment, for example Chevrolet Spark.
In A3 Midsize segment, models like Honda City and Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire are placed that have a length between 4000 mm and 4500 mm. The A4 Premium segment includes models like Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla that have a maximum length of 4501 mm and 4700 mm, while A5 segment includes model like Honda Accord, which has a length between 4701 mm and 5000 mm. The last segment in 'A' series is A6 Luxury, which incorporates models like BMW 7 Series that have a length of 5000 mm and above.
Coming to 'B' segment, it has been also further divided into two sections, namely B1 and B2. B1 segment include models that have a maximum mass of 3.5 tonnes and a seating capacity of less than nine including driver, while B2 section incorporates models that have a maximum mass of 5 tonnes with a seating capacity not exceeding thirteen individuals including driver.
The last platform for categorising cars is 'C', which is used by Multi Purpose Vehicles. The models offered within this segment are mainly of van type and their mass does not exceed by 3.5 tonnes. Besides cars, the Indian auto industry also boasts of two-wheelers and heavy vehicles, which are placed in different segments.
