Production of Cars in India during the Early Years I am just privy to a database generated by Mr Gerard Wilson, who lives in Yonkers, New York. He was a part of the Peace Corps in India in the 1960's and his presence here sparked interest in the Indian automobiles. His friend Mr Bill Fillip who is my FB friend has communicated with me on behalf of Mr Gerard. We acknowledge the efforts of Mr Gerard Wilson and also acknowledge Mr Bill Fillip's help, that helped us acquire the write-up and production data from 1947 to 1967.
Quoting Mr Bill Fillip's mail extract to me: Quote:
"My friend who compiled the Indian production figures and the brief historical document is Gerard Wilson, and he lives in Yonkers, New York. He is a fellow member of the Society of Automotive Historians, and like me, enjoys researching statistics. I will write Gerard again to find out what the sources for his data are. I know he donated two books on the Indian automobile industry to the New York Public Library, which must have been his primary sources. I don't know the names, though. He normally provides the data in the documents he creates, but he didn't this time. Gerard spent a few years in India while in the Peace Corps, in the 1960s, which sparked his interest in the vehicles there.
The large PDF file contains a 15-page document summarizing fiscal-year production of various British car plants. It includes the Cowley sheet I posted on your site, with the 1945/46 and 1946/47 figures for the Hindustan Ten. This 15-page document was created in January 1985 by the Manufacturing Programming Department of the Austin Rover Group, using historic British Leyland and earlier production figures in their possession. Since they are fiscal-year figures, they may differ somewhat from those published in marque-specific books. In some cases, however, these fiscal-year figures are the only figures that survive. I was sent these sheets via postal mail many years ago by the original archivist (Anders Clausager) at BMIHT in Gaydon, England. These have been a boon to my research. In some cases, "KD" figures are separated, which are the knock-down units for export. Destination isn't mentioned, though." |
A few facts are clarified. The Hindustan 14 was first introduced in 1949. HM was started at Kandla, Gujarat in 1942. It shifted to Uttarpara in 1948, if I am not mistaken. The Hindustan 10 was being assembled then. HM introduced the Landmaster in 1954 with the older side valve engine (1476 cc)carried over from the Hindustan 14 , whereas the Series II had the 1489cc OHV engine in the U.K.The Ambassador came along in 1958 again with the carried over engine from the Hindustan 14 and Landmaster. Only in 1960 did the 1489 cc OHV engine come under the Ambassador's bonnet. The Baby Hindustan 1000 was also assembled in the mid- 1950's for about two or three years by HM.
The imports of cars as CBU's or SKD kits assembled were totally stopped by 1956 and not 1965 as stated. The Indian manufacturers were asked to indegenise by 1965 and hence all components became Indian made, but for a small percentage of spares like carburettors and so on that continued to be imported (e.g. SU carbs in the Ambassadors till 1970/71) . Manufacturers who had no manufacturing base fled by 1956 and included Ford, GM, BMC brands like Austin, Wolseley, Riley, Morris (present through HM however) and so on. Similarly, Chrysler too fled leaving PAL with its Italian partner Fiat. American Motors brand Kaiser also sold their cars till the 1950's but fled in the early 1950's. British brands from the Cooper Group too fled the scene which include Hillman, Humber, Commer (used to see a few Commer trucks earlier) and so on. So also many lesser known brands in India too shut shop.
Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 25th April 2014 at 23:33.
|