Editing Transport in India (section)

=== Motor vehicles ===

==== Two-wheelers ====
Motorised two-wheeler vehicles like [[scooter (motorcycle)|scooters]], motorcycles and [[moped]]s are very popular due to their fuel efficiency and ease of use in congested roads or streets. The number of two-wheelers sold is several times to that of cars. There were 47.5&nbsp;million powered two-wheelers in India in 2003 compared with just 8.6&nbsp;million cars.<ref name="transtatsin">{{Cite web |url=http://www.iraptranstats.net/in |title=Transport in India |website=International Transport Statistics Database |publisher=[[international Road Assessment Program|iRAP]] |access-date=17 February 2009 |archive-date=7 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307013828/http://www.iraptranstats.net/in |url-status=live }}</ref>

Manufacture of motorcycles in India started when [[Royal Enfield]] began assembly in its plant in [[Chennai]] in 1948. Royal Enfield, an iconic brand name in the country, manufactures different variants of the British [[Royal Enfield Bullet|Bullet]] motorcycle which is a classic motorcycle that is still in production.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/4751939/The-star-of-India.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/4751939/The-star-of-India.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The star of India |last=Woods |first=Phil |date=28 July 2001 |work=Online edition of the Telegraph, dated 2001-07-28 |access-date=19 June 2009 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Hero MotoCorp]] (formerly Hero Honda), [[Honda]], [[Bajaj Auto]], [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]], [[TVS Motors]] and [[Mahindra Group|Mahindra 2 Wheelers]] are the largest two-wheeler companies in terms of market-share.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/02/03/stories/2009020350970200.htm |title=Honda tightens two-wheeler grip in India |website=Online edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2009-02-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206105329/http://thehindubusinessline.com/2009/02/03/stories/2009020350970200.htm |archive-date=6 February 2009 |access-date=19 June 2009}}</ref>

Manufacture of scooters in India started when [[Automobile Products of India]] (API) set up at [[Mumbai]] and incorporated in 1949. They began assembling [[Innocenti]]-built [[Lambretta]] scooters in India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lambrettascooter.org.uk/ |title=Lambretta Scooter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923170021/http://lambrettascooter.org.uk/ |archive-date=23 September 2017}}</ref> They eventually acquired a licence for the Li150 series model, of which they began full-fledged production from the early 1960s onwards.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} In 1972, [[Scooters India Limited]] (SIL), a state-run enterprise based in [[Lucknow]], Uttar Pradesh, bought the entire manufacturing rights of the last Innocenti Lambretta model. API has infrastructural facilities at Mumbai, [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], and [[Chennai]], but has been non-operational since 2002. {{citation needed|date=July 2012}} SIL stopped producing scooters in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cambridge Lambretta Workshops |url=https://www.lambretta.co.uk/clw_history.php |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.lambretta.co.uk}}</ref>

Motorcycles and scooters can be rented in many cities, Wicked Ride, Metro Bikes and many other companies are working with state governments to solve last-mile connectivity problems with mass-transit.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Now-hire-bikes-from-Metro-stations-in-Bengaluru/articleshow/52380702.cms |title=Now hire bikes from Metro stations in Bengaluru – Times of India |work=The Times of India |access-date=13 February 2017 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813170915/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Now-hire-bikes-from-Metro-stations-in-Bengaluru/articleshow/52380702.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Wearing [[helmet|protective headgear]] is mandatory for both the rider and the pillion-rider in most cities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Swaroop |first1=Mamta |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Selma Marie |last3=Sagar |first3=Sushma |last4=Crandall |first4=Marie L. |year=2014 |title=The problem of the pillion rider: India's helmet law and New Delhi's exemption |journal=Journal of Surgical Research |volume=188 |issue=1 |pages=64–68 |doi=10.1016/j.jss.2014.01.003|pmid=24529884 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==== Automobiles ====
Private [[automobile]]s account for 30% of the total transport demand in urban areas of India. An average of 1,800 new vehicles are registered every day in Delhi alone.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=2023 vehicle sales trump pre-Covid numbers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/2023-vehicle-sales-in-delhi-hit-record-high/articleshow/106429660.cms |access-date=2025-05-02 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The number of automobiles produced in India rose from 6.3 million in 2002–2003 to 11 million (11.2&nbsp;million) in 2008–2009 and 28.4 million in 2023-2024.<ref name="automobilesales0809">{{Cite web |url=http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/production-trend.aspx |title=Production Trend |website=Official webpage of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409000230/http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/production-trend.aspx |archive-date=9 April 2009 |access-date=13 April 2009}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> There is substantial variation among cities and states in terms of dependence on private cars: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata have 185, 127, 157 and 140 cars per 1,000 people respectively, which is much lower compared to developed countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ghate |first1=AT |last2=Sunder |first2=S |date=2014 |title=Proliferation of Cars in Indian Cities: Let Us Not Ape the West |journal=Energy Research Institute Policy |volume=Brief 12}}</ref> This reflects different levels of urban density and varied qualities of public transport infrastructure. Nationwide, India still has a very low rate of car ownership. When comparing car ownership between [[BRICS]] developing countries, it is on a par with China,<ref name="transtatsbz" /> and exceeded by Brazil and Russia.<ref name="transtatsbz">{{Cite web |url=http://www.iraptranstats.net/bz |title=Transport in Brazil |website=International Transport Statistics Database |publisher=[[international Road Assessment Program|iRAP]] |access-date=17 February 2009 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405075612/http://www.iraptranstats.net/bz/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:HyundaiChennai.JPG|thumb|[[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai's]] manufacturing plant at [[Sriperumbudur]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]]]
[[Compact car]]s, especially [[hatchback]]s and [[Compact sport utility vehicle|compact SUVs]] predominate due to affordability, fuel efficiency, congestion, and lack of parking space in most cities. [[Chennai]] is known as the "Detroit of India" for its automobile industry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/why-chennai-turned-into-detroit-of-india/1233254 |title=Why Chennai turned into 'Detroit of India' |first=Car |last=Dekho |website=The Financial Express |access-date=26 November 2014 |archive-date=13 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113081659/http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/why-chennai-turned-into-detroit-of-india/1233254 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Maruti Udyog|Maruti]], [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]], [[Mahindra & Mahindra|Mahindra]] and [[Tata Motors]] are the most popular brands in the order of their market share. The [[Hindustan Ambassador|Ambassador]] once had a monopoly, but is now an icon of pre-[[Economic history of India|liberalisation]] India. The [[Maruti 800]] launched in 1984, created the first revolution in the Indian auto sector because of its low price and high quality. It had the highest market share until 2004, when it was overtaken by other low-cost models from Maruti such as the Alto and the Wagon R, the Indica from [[Tata Motors]] and the [[Hyundai Atos|Santro]] from [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]]. Over the 20 years since its introduction, about 2.4&nbsp;million Maruti 800s were sold.<ref name="m800salestats">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2005/02/13/stories/2005021300431500.htm |title=New face to good old Maruti 800 |first=S. |last=Muralidhar |date=13 February 2005 |website=[[Business Line]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219014552/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2005/02/13/stories/2005021300431500.htm |archive-date=19 December 2008 |access-date=13 April 2009}}</ref> However, with the launch of the [[Tata Nano]], the least expensive [[Production vehicle|production car]] in the world, the Maruti 800 lost its popularity.<ref name="driving.timesonline.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article3164205.ece |title=Tata Nano&nbsp;– world's cheapest new car is unveiled in India |last=O'Connor |first=Ashling |date=11 January 2008 |work=[[The Times]] |access-date=21 January 2008 |location=London |archive-date=30 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830073930/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article3164205.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2012|reason=Proof needed, when Maruti looses its popularity? Nano is least expensive, but still a flop in selling.}} India is also known for a variety of [[wikt:innate#Adjective|indigenous]] vehicles made in villages out of simple motors and vehicle spare parts. A few of these [[innovation]]s are the [[jugaad]], maruta, chhakda, and the [[peter rehra]].<ref name="homemadenano">{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Homemade-Nano/articleshow/4328878.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811084555/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-29/special-report/28026171_1_jugaad-chhakda-innovators |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Homemade Nano |last=Kurup |first=Saira |date=29 March 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 April 2009}}</ref>

In the city of [[Bangalore]], [[Radio One (India)|Radio One]] and the Bangalore Traffic Police, launched a [[carpooling]] drive which has involved celebrities such as [[Robin Uthappa]], and [[Rahul Dravid]] encouraging the public to carpool.<ref name="blrcarpoolceleb">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/bangalores-car-pooling-venture-ropes-in-celebrities_100128752.html |title=Bangalore's car pooling venture ropes in celebrities |access-date=28 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614064044/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/bangalores-car-pooling-venture-ropes-in-celebrities_100128752.html |archive-date=14 June 2010 |publisher=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]]}}</ref><ref name="radioonecarpoooling">{{Cite news |url=http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/radio/radionews.asp?section_id=7&news_id=33267&tag=28213 |title=Radio One, CommuteEasy partner to promote car pooling in Bangalore |access-date=28 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720205258/http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/radio/radionews.asp?section_id=7&news_id=33267&tag=28213 |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="btpcarpool">{{Cite web |url=http://bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in/pressroom/pdf/pdf52.pdf |title=Car pooling kicks off in City |publisher=Bangalore Traffic Police |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721155418/http://bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in/pressroom/pdf/pdf52.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=28 May 2009}}</ref> The initiative got a good response, and by the end of May 2009, 10,000 people are said to have carpooled in the city.<ref name="car10000pool">{{Cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1257983 |title=10,000 plunge into car pool |last=Shwetha S. |access-date=28 May 2009 |publisher=Online edition of DNA, dated 22 May 2009}}</ref> There have been efforts to improve the energy efficiency of transport systems in Indian cities, including by introducing performance standards for private automobiles or by banning particularly polluting older cars. The city of Kolkata, for example, passed a law in 2009/10 phasing out vehicles over 15 years old with the purpose of reducing air pollution.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kolkata-breathes-easy-sans-its-old-vehicles/articleshow/4981790.cms |title=Kolkata breathes easy sans its old vehicles |last=Sengupta |first=Atmadip Ray & Tamal |date=7 September 2009 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2018-04-10 |archive-date=11 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411031159/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kolkata-breathes-easy-sans-its-old-vehicles/articleshow/4981790.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the effects were mixed. On the one hand, poorer urban residents are more likely to see public health improvements from better air quality, since they are more likely to live in polluted areas and work outdoors than richer urban residents.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Colenbrander S, Gouldson A, Roy J, Kerr N, Sarkar S, Hall S, Sudmant A, Ghatak A, Chakravarty D, Ganguly D, Mcanulla F |date=2017 |title=Can low-carbon urban development be pro-poor? The case of Kolkata, India |url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/105982/8/0956247816677775.pdf |journal=Environment & Urbanization |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=139–158 |doi=10.1177/0956247816677775 |s2cid=62880332 |doi-access=free |access-date=23 September 2019 |archive-date=25 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725074641/http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/105982/8/0956247816677775.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> On the other hand, drivers of such vehicles suffered from losing their livelihoods as a result of this environmental regulation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ghosh |first1=P |last2=Somanathan |first2=R|author2-link=Rohini Somanathan |date=2013 |title=Improving Urban Air Quality in India: Lessons from the Kolkata Clean Air Regulations of 2009 |url=http://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ghosh-Somanathan-2013-Working-Paper1.pdf |journal=International Growth Centre |access-date=10 April 2018 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810005919/http://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ghosh-Somanathan-2013-Working-Paper1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Utility vehicles ====
The first [[utility vehicle]] in India was manufactured by [[Mahindra Group|Mahindra]]. It was a copy of the original [[Willys Jeep]] and was manufactured under licence.<ref name="mahindrajeep">{{Cite web |url=http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/India.html |title=Mahindra Jeeps on The CJ3B Page |date=31 January 2007 |publisher=Film.queensu.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990421062345/http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/India.html |archive-date=21 April 1999 |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> The vehicle was an instant hit and made Mahindra one of the top companies in India. The [[Indian Army]] and police extensively use Mahindra vehicles along with [[Maruti Gypsy]]s for transporting personnel and equipment. [[Tata Motors]], the automobile manufacturing arm of the [[Tata Group]], launched its first utility vehicle, the [[Tata Sumo]], in 1994.<ref name="Sumo1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tata.com/company/profile.aspx?sectid=a4Nd8IHyrqI=#ab |title=Company Profile: Tata Motors |website=Official webpage of the Tata Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123025134/http://tata.com/company/profile.aspx?sectid=a4Nd8IHyrqI=#ab |archive-date=23 January 2009 |access-date=23 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="Sumo2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/mar/20slde7-from-trucks-to-nano-the-tata-motors-journey.htm |title=The historic Tata Motors journey |date=20 March 2009 |publisher=Rediff News |access-date=23 June 2009 |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026064846/http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/mar/20slde7-from-trucks-to-nano-the-tata-motors-journey.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sumo, owing to its then-modern design, captured a 31% share of the market within two years.<ref name="Sumo3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/19970528/14855013.html |title=Telco net spurts 44%, to pay Rs 8 a share |website=Online edition of The Financial Express, dated 1997-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515022208/http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/19970528/14855013.html |archive-date=15 May 2013 |access-date=23 June 2009}}</ref> The Tempo Trax from [[Force Motors]] until recently was ruling the rural areas. [[Sports utility vehicle]]s now form a sizeable part of the passenger vehicle market.<ref name="SUV1">{{Cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/SUVs_still_ruling_the_roads_in_India/rssarticleshow/3561336.cms |title=SUVs still ruling the roads in India |last=Sarkar |first=John |work=Online edition of the Economic Times, dated 2008-10-05 |access-date=7 June 2009 |archive-date=9 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109115559/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/SUVs_still_ruling_the_roads_in_India/rssarticleshow/3561336.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Models from Tata, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and other brands are available.<ref name="SUV2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blonnet.com/bline/2003/03/13/stories/2003031302520100.htm |title=SUVs set to blaze new trail |first=N. |last=Ramakrishnan |website=Online edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2003-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040708091901/http://www.blonnet.com/bline/2003/03/13/stories/2003031302520100.htm |archive-date=8 July 2004 |access-date=7 June 2009}}</ref>