The Indian car market has been on a constant path of progress since two decades, growing in all aspects. There are no fixed trends in India apart from some obvious ones as the market is pretty dynamic and thereby, keeps changing from time to time. Over the years, a number of car makers have entered India, which includes companies from all around the world. While some have tasted instant success, others have struggled to claim a stronghold despite being in the market for a long time. Brand from countries like United States of America, Italy, Germany, Sweden, France and Czech Republic are operating in the country and some of them have performed really well.
German brands are known across the globe for their top-class vehicles, sporting superior engines, best-in-class features and excellent designs. Also, German brands are present in all segments including hatchbacks, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and sedans. Volkswagen, one of the largest auto companies in the world, is relatively new to India; however, it managed to create an impact in the Indian auto market and tasted success with models like Polo, Vento, Jetta and Cross Polo. German brands have a pedigree in the luxury car segment with Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi at the top. On the other hand, Italian car maker Fiat has been in India for a long time but has not been able to gain a sizeable share. Other companies from America and Europe include General Motors, Chevrolet, Renault and Volvo.
Although brands from Europe and America have enjoyed a good stint, companies from Asia have a strong presence in the Indian car market. There are several reasons for the success of Asian firms in India. In the first place, similarities between India and countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand help them understand the local market better. The ability to analyse demand patterns in a better way gives Asian auto makers an edge over others. Another intelligent strategy adopted by these firms was that they collaborated or acquired an Indian company to give them a better chance of success. Sitting at the top of passenger car market is Maruti Suzuki, which, in terms of brand image and performance, is an Indian firm for many people. However, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese car maker Suzuki Motor Company. Maruti Udyog Limited was taken over by Suzuki and needless to say, it has paid rich dividends to the latter. Another example of the same is Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian arm of Japanese car maker.
There are a few other Asian firms that are operating without collaborating with any Indian entity. Hyundai, the South Korean auto maker, is the second largest passenger car manufacturer of India. It is the only company that can manage to compete with Maruti Suzuki. Not only does Hyundai enjoy a good market share, it is also one of the most loved brands in the country. Honda entered the Indian industry during 1990s and since then, has been going strong.
