Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. plans to redesign the only car in its stable, Verito, to cater to the needs of India’s fast-growing taxi segment as it looks to fill the void created by Hindustan Motors’ Ambassador, a top executive at the firm said in an interview.

The CK Birla Group-owned Hindustan Motors sold the Ambassador brand to French company PSA Group in February. The Ambassador has a cult following among some retro-minded enthusiasts in the country. It was the vehicle of choice (or rather, given the limited choice, default) of thousands of owners since 1957 because of its sheer ruggedness and ability to maneuver India’s potholed roads. It was hugely successful in India’s small car market, and in particular with the government. This was, of course, before Maruti Udyog Ltd.’s Maruti 800 killed its appeal. Today, Maruti’s SX4 has replaced the Ambassador in government circles. The Ambassador was also the preferred vehicle for taxis.

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details