[vharihar]

Originally Posted by kadanaJ

I'm surprised seeing a lot of negativity in the comments.

Like it or not, the opinions of billionaires and public figures like Mr. Oswal do have a lot of impact.

Koreans are partial to buying mostly Korean cars, Germans are the same. There is a certain sense of patriotism in many countries. Why can't we follow suit?

Him being public about his purchase and saying "vocal-for-local" is a great move. If more public figures and celebrities become more vocal like him, they have the power to make buying Tata and Mahindra cars the "cool" thing to do.

I hope more influential figures follow in his footsteps.

Absolutely. The negative comments is simply flabbergasting.

Some forummers are ridiculing and asking why tag Anand Mahindra. Well, he has clearly stated in his tweet that he will go on to buy a Mahindra car next, he has hence probably tagged Anand Mahindra, what's so hard to understand?!

Some forummers are ridiculing and asking why tag PMO. Well, his move for "vocal for local" resonates with what the PM has been trying to say for a while, he has hence probably tagged the PMO, what's so hard to understand?!

This needless self-flogging almost sounds like a colonial hangover!

It's perfectly ok to criticize if you have had a bad experience with TaMo ASS, nothing wrong there. But this has gone over the top now.

And FYI: Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai are not Indian companies. Their ownership is majority Japanese and Korean respectively. Maruti Suzuki is 54+ percent owned by Suzuki. Much of their designs come handed down from parent Japanese/Korean company respectively.

On the other hand, the largest shareholders of TaMo and Mahindra are the Indian promoters. Much of their design trajectory is decided in India.

While it is true that in today's global supply chain, no company is local, all are global to more or less an equal extent, but yet, the trajectory-/destiny-deciding entity is an Indian company in the case of TaMo and Mahindra, and that is not a small feat. Getting an engine from Italy and a transmission from Korea and putting them together is not a small feat. Speccing them right so they work optimally together is also a big engg task (even if not as big a task as designing an engine entirely). So let's be proud of TaMo and Mahindra, and lets give credit to Motilal Oswal for this step. And let's also criticize TaMo and Mahindra when due.

[redeff]

It's quite telling though. Hopefully his next purchase in the lux segment is from the JLR stable. That's owned by an Indian parent.


I don't think wearing your nationalism on your sleeve is much of an issue. Most of the world loves to do it. That said, If people can post on public social media about why they will not buy a car anymore, I think it's perfectly reasonable that someone explains why he is looking at his buy.

Being Vocal for local is a perfectly good reason. More importantly, It doesn't mean that he is asking anyone to not buy foreign owned cars/ brands. If he wants to promote Indian brands like Tata and Mahindra, I think that's just superb.


He also said watches and other luxuries. This should be interesting!

[itisK]

When a Team-Bhp member buys a car, and makes a post explaining the rationale behind it on the forum, we all appreciate it and thank them for sharing their thoughts.

But when a Billionaire does it on twitter, this is the reaction.

I wonder why.

Especially because Mr. Oswal is not critical of anything.
It's an innocuous tweet, appreciating a vehicle and the manufacturer.

[johny_desparado]

Hey ,
Let him buy whatever he wants. No idea why he is advertising it on social media. Tata and Mahindra are automotive companies and they are yet to build quality products without initial niggles! Are we unpatriotic just because we buy from someone who can build a car better than them? Ridiculous parameters

[srh]

Originally Posted by cooldip

On a lighter note

On peeling layers - The mHawk and mEagle engine would have several parts engineered by global giants like Bosch. Koni, a European specialist, designs the suspension. Global players like Delphi, Subros or Denso most likely engineer the aircon. The glass and pano roof is done by Saint Gobain or Ashai Glass.

We have been living in a globalized world for centuries. Marketing departments invent slogans to push their wares.

More than where the parts/ sub assemblies are manufactured or who manufacturers them, what matters more is where most of the value is 'captured'. An iPhone may get made in Taiwan or China or India, but most value gets captured in the US and arguably in Ireland.

So TaMo/ M&M do contribute more than MSL or Hyundai etc. However, Maruti & Hyundai also contribute decently.

[NiInJa]

I am reading Mr. Oswal's tweet and trying to figure out how the Safari fits in his pursuit of being 'simple' and 'minimalistic'. Safari is a complex and space hogging car. Tata Tiago Base version is simple and minimalistic

I take it as a PR exercise, and a lame one at that. The Safari is a great car, irrespective of the super rich buying it or not.

Anyway, nothing further to add. Admins, please feel to delete my post.

[Nithesh_M]

Fiat's engine. Hyundai's gearbox. Chinese imported electricals and infotainment components. Ford developed chassis albeit dumbed down with steel instead of aluminium.

So which part is local? Assembly? If so all other manufacturers are also vocal for local?

[landcruiser123]

He should have been 'vocal on local' by spreading his message on All India Radio and Doordarshan instead of Silicon Valley-based social media platform X.

[fhdowntheline]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

He should have been 'vocal on local' by spreading his message on All India Radio and Doordarshan instead of Silicon Valley-based social media platform X.

Now you have said it ! We will be truly local when we use "Koo" instead of X, and other Indian equivalents.

[Hayek]

Am not on Twitter anymore and never followed Mr Oswal. If he has tweeted about his other cars, then this is no big deal. If this is a first time tweet, you can argue it is an attempt to curry favour with the powers that be and their Atmanirbhar agenda.

That said Tata and Mahindra are doing a great job. They made safety a priority for Indian car buyers. My sister in law owns a Nexon Petrol and is very happy with it - and has used it for numerous trips all over peninsular India. The Nexon EV I test drove was outstanding on fit and finish even if it could not compare with the Ioniq 5 on drive quality (but you could get 2.5 Nexons for the price of 1 Ioniq 5). No car maker is perfect.

As a libertarian, I am all for low tariffs - and for customers choosing what they buy. Jobs created through tariffs are no different from NREGA jobs - taxing Peter to pay Paul. But I think Tata Motors and Mahindra have the potential to build on their EV bet and to take the fight to the Chinese and I am rooting for them to win. Hope they look to go global with their products rather than being happy being the big fish in our Indian pond alone.

[RRM]

Originally Posted by Nithesh_M

Fiat's engine. Hyundai's gearbox. Chinese imported electricals and infotainment components. Ford developed chassis albeit dumbed down with steel instead of aluminium.

So which part is local? Assembly? If so all other manufacturers are also vocal for local?

Vocal for assembled local

[pgsagar]

Why so much vitriol against Oswald. Teambhpians also post their purchase and justify it. I'm sure some of them also post it on social media and whatsap status. How's Oswald any different? So what if he tried to score some browny points with PM? Which celeb doesn't? Cricketers and Bollywood stars keep orbiting around PM like planets around sun.

It appears fashionable to make fun of home-brand cars. What's wrong if he's endorsing/promoting an Indian car? I spent almost a year's total time in US/Canada in my multiple trips there. I haven't seen one non-American brand car with police or politicians. Even their Prez uses a Cadillac. Ditto with other countries. Most car manufacturing countries' PM/Presidents use their domestic brand car. I am neither asking nor expecting anyone to buy Tata Mahindra cars blindly. Your money, your wish. But why make fun of those who do?

[Mystic]

In this world of social media, it is very difficult to know the true patriots. Mr Oswal may deserve praise for his decision so that it sends a positive message to other billionaires in the present world.

One person I see to be a true patriot of India is our beloved former PM Lal Bahadur Sastri and the story of his car.

https://pune.news/auto/lal-bahadur-s...urchase-66041/

[ashutoshb]

The tweet was meant for consumption in the social media. This ain't the social media. We are a bunch of enthusiasts who love anything with wheels. Domestic and foreign. I love my Tigor the same as our Astor. Doesn't matter where the origin is. They were made in India.

I do have a soft corner for Tata and Mahindra. When they get praises abroad, I do feel a sense of pride. But they have reached such heights because of the tough competition they got from the best of Japanese, Korean, European and now Chinese makers.

My request to fellow bhpians, do not belittle the successes of our home grown companies. They are standing strong on a field where hundreds of companies have vanished and forgotten. And do not alienate other companies. We enjoy their products with equal enthusiasm and make them a part of our family for years.

[buzzy_boy]

"In my pursuit of minimalistic and simple living..."

Would've been more apt had he said this after buying a Speldor, Alto K10, or a Tiago

I was sitting next to a salaried professional while waiting for my train. He was telling his friend, over phone, how difficult it is to afford a base model of the Harrier. What's simplistic for some is aspirational for most others.