Celebrating four decades of the iconic Maruti Suzuki 800, the beloved people's car of India, Editor Sirish Chandran and Editor-at-large Adil Jal Darukhanawala delve into the profound impact that Maruti Suzuki has had on the Indian automotive industry throughout these 40 years. In this engaging podcast, they share captivating insights into Adil's personal experiences with the 800, exploring the evolution of this legendary vehicle through various generations, such as the Zen, A-Star, and Alto. But it's not just about the cars – the conversation also provides a fascinating glimpse into the automotive landscape of India before the inception of Maruti Udyog Limited. Adil sheds light on the conditions, challenges, and dynamics of the Indian auto industry during that era, setting the stage for the transformative journey that was to follow. The discussion also delves into the origins of the SS80, unravelling the story behind its creation, and provides insights into why the Maruti Suzuki 800 earned its reputation as the people's car.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:51 Indian auto industry before Maruti Suzuki
7:14 People behind the formation of Maruti Suzuki
11:30 Hurdles for other car manufacturers
14:19 Why was the 800 the people's car?
15:03 Timeline to launch the 800
15:55 Maruti SS80
17:13 Improvement in quality
19:50 Allotment of cars
20:42 Culture at Maruti Suzuki Udyog Limited
22:19 Maruti Suzuki SB308
24:11 Localisation
25:39 Similarities between SB308, Omni, and Gypsy
26:34 Maruti Suzuki Gypsy and rallying
27:30 Platform sharing
28:51 Maruti Suzuki and Motorsports
30:47 Maruti Suzuki Zen
32:54 Social change with the Maruti Suzuki 800
34:03 Maruti Udyog and Porsche Engineering
36:23 Back to the Zen
38:28 Maruti Suzuki Alto
42:07 Cars for India and export
44:00 RnD at Maruti Udyog
47:07 Maruti and Suzuki's relationship with the government
50:27 Talent pool at Maruti Suzuki
51:54 Reliability and longevity of the Maruti Suzuki cars
55:40 Maruti Suzuki A-Star
56:14 Maruti Suzuki Alto
57:10 Adil's SS80 ownership experience
1:00:20 Maruti Suzuki's heritage
1:02:20 How the Alto Transformed India
1:04:09 Second-most important car in India

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