The end of 56 years of Indian diplomacy

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This lady proves it once more: Indians don’t shout about. So when after 56 years of production the curtain fell for the Hindustan Ambassador last week, the manufacturer didn’t trumpet along with party streamers and confetti to celebrate another ‘motoring milestone’. This contrary to some other cars that had been in production for a really long time. The VW Beetle (1938–2003) springs to mind, as does the VW T2 Combi more recently (1967–2013).

Question is if the Ambassador, an Indian version of the 1958 Morris Oxford, is a pearl of the Orient or a dodo of a car. Fact is that in the 56 years of production it became as Indian as a London black cab is (or used to be) British. The Ambassador was the only thing available for ages in India, holding 70% of the market at one time. But it’s antiquated body was hardly ever updated and despite technical updates (the last cars were Isuzu powered) it was bound to die off. Just 2,200 Ambassadors were sold last year. In a country where millions of people are getting into motoring that’s not sufficient anymore. Even she would nod understandingly.

(Text: Jeroen Booij)

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