[BeemerBug_06]

Originally Posted by anay3000

Anyone remember the Fiat Uno?

The Fiat Uno still happens to be the car to have received the largest number of bookings in Indian automotive history. I believe it was 2.9 lakh bookings or thereabouts. We don't see them around much anymore at all, for obvious reasons such as lack of spares and it being a Fiat to top it all up. But back in the late 90s - Early 2000s the Uno sold in decent numbers. Some people preferred it to the Maruti Zen owing to its sturdy build and quality. Also, very popular was its 1.7-litre diesel engine which complimented the 1.0 and later 1.2-litre petrol engine. It was also apparently the first hatchback in India to be equipped with a power steering. In Mumbai, the Uno was also included in the fleet of Silver and Blue Cool Cabs !

My uncle had booked a Fiat Uno in the year 2000. By the time he was allotted a car, the Fiat Palio was launched, so he decided to get a Palio instead

[fhdowntheline]

I think people are confusing flop cars with those which did not have long production runs. The natural definition would imply flop immediately after launch. Most of the cars that people have listed had a production/ retail cycle of at least 2-3 years. An utter flop is a car like Chevy SRV, Peugot 309, Standard 2000, Zen Classic ( remember that abomination) . Honda Brio, Mobilio , BRV, Uno, 118NE, Nano etc were not flops in that sense.

[Vinod_nair]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

I think people are confusing flop cars with those which did not have long production runs. The natural definition would imply flop immediately after launch. Most of the cars that people have listed had a production/ retail cycle of at least 2-3 years. An utter flop is a car like Chevy SRV, Peugot 309, Standard 2000, Zen Classic ( remember that abomination) . Honda Brio, Mobilio , BRV, Uno, 118NE, Nano etc were not flops in that sense.

Totally agree with you, especially the last 2 highlighted lines.

I still have and enjoy the last GenX Nano AMT, and if memory serves me correctly, Nano used to do decent numbers around 5/6k per month, before TML pulled the plug around 2017, due to impending new norms.

I would add more names like Dolphin, Uno, even Badal were not flops in that sense.

[Beta_Blocker]

I would like to add Volkswagen Phaeton to the list

[SID7115]

Originally Posted by kiku007

I'm not sure if you can call all the cars being discussed in this thread as flops or unsuccessful.

I do have a few related observations though.[list=1][*]Automobile nameplates and manufacturers don't last long enough in India when compared to developed markets.

I wonder if the Swift, Bolero and Wagon-R are probably the oldest running nameplates in India.

Instead of putting it like this, I would like to add that although the nameplate remains, the vehicle characteristics change. Sometimes we associate a particular nameplate to a vehicle and whenever we think of the name, that vehicle comes to mind.
Best example is the Tata Safari (OG RWD ladder frame with opt 4×4 Safari vs 2023 Monocoque FWD Safari with no 4×4)

Fun fact : The oldest running car nameplate in India is actually the Mercedes-Benz E Class.

[SID7115]

My additions
1. Mahindra Alturas G4
2. Tata Estate
3. Mercedes-Benz R Class (anyone remembers this)
4. Isuzu MU-7 (can it be included? it's successor is still selling)
5. Maruti Suzuki Versa (never sold as Versa, now successful as Eeco)
6. Hyundai Eon
7. VW Cross Polo
8. VW Touareg (2014 model)

[dr.skt]

MG Gloster can be added to the list aswell.

Originally Posted by SID7115

My additions
1. Mahindra Alturas G4
2. Tata Estate
3. Mercedes-Benz R Class (anyone remembers this)
4. Isuzu MU-7 (can it be included? it's successor is still selling)
5. Maruti Suzuki Versa (never sold as Versa, now successful as Eeco)
6. Hyundai Eon
7. VW Cross Polo
8. VW Touareg (2014 model)

[dr.skt]

Mercedes GLB flopped immediately with bare minimum sales and discontinued in India within 1 year itself.
I had personally liked it, however its pricing was quite high when compared to GLA and GLB was basically a GLA with a 3rd row suitable only for small children however the price gap was huge. Probably one of the reasons it did not survive.

[tdcarlover]

The Tata Venture Minivan was a superb concept, looked great, sank v quickly
Wanted to buy one , bought a vista instead, no regrets despite the flop tag😊
The Venture was apparently underpowered and too agrarian in the interiors , the usual QC issues .
Perhaps if its it’s initial price had matched the Omni even as an introductory strategy it might have gotten traction, but alas
With the launch of the ACE. EV I was hoping for Venture EV or a small EV minivan at less than 10 lakh, perhaps I’m daydreaming