Ambassador Car to bid farewell soon | Timeline of Amby

Symbol of Indian politics and power after Indian independence - The Ambassador Car is bidding farewell soon. As of 25 May 2014, the Hindustan Motors has suspended the production of the Ambassador. For more than fifty years it has been the face of Indian politics, often called "The king of Indian roads". The White Ambassador, the product of Hind Motors Ltd., is considered as an official vehicle of Govt. of India and remained first choice among bureaucrats and politicians. Car once considered status symbol in India, has its equal reputation in Indian police and army, police used white colour version whereas army people loves black colour. Air Force chose its sky colour version.

 

Recently Hind Motors decided to shut down its Uttarpara Plant in Hugli distt. of West Bengal, for unknown time. The main reason behind this is the inability of company to make desired changes in concept of car, for its sustenance in market and to compete with other foreign brands. It lags behind in terms of security issues when it comes to use in official works, viz. for politicians.

Timeline of Ambassador Car

• In 1942, Hind Motors came up with first indigenous car of India. They sat-up first and only production plant in India.
• In 1948, Hindustan Motors shifted its assembly plant from Port Okha in Gujarat to Uttarpara in West Bengal.
• IN 1957, it makes debut in England and labelled as the 1957 Hindustan Landmaster.
• In 1958, it started the production of Ambassador car, keeping in mind the needs of folks.
• Modelled on Britain’s Morris Oxford, the Ambassador was the first car to be made in India.
• Period of 80s is considered most successful for Ambassador. It was the time when company sold 24000 units per year. Then entered the foreign auto-makers like Suzuki, Ford, Hyundai etc. in India with new colours and models.
• In mid 1980s, Maruti Suzuki introduced its cheaper 800 hatchback, the biggest rival of Ambassador.
• Company made all efforts and made several changes in model to rise the sales.
• In 2010, BS IV emission standards were rolled out in 11 Indian cities, including Kolkata.
• On April 1, 2011 sale of Ambassador taxis had been banned.
• In 2011, The company could only sell around 2,500 cars.
• Recently, the plant was producing a less than 150 vehicles per month, with average of 5 cars a day.
• The company had stopped paying wages to workers a few months back and has finally stopped production on 25th May 2014.