It has nothing that’s the hallmark of a car–sexiness—as it so macho. But when it comes to taxis, its not sexiness that gets you a comfy ride. Therefore the relevance of macho features in a taxi. And here comes the Ambassador car from Hindustan motors, which has been voted the best taxi in the world.
Yes, the Ambassador has lost out to the more modern offerings from Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and the like but the good old Ambassador car, that once ruled the roads in the country, has just been voted as the world's best taxi by global automotive programme Top Gear of the BBC.
In a show, which is being aired on the BBC, Top Gear's executive director Richard Hammond organised a world taxi shootout in which Ambassador emerged a winner, beating competitors from all over the globe. "The winner is India's virtually indestructible Hindustan Ambassador," England-based motor museum Beaulieu, where the 'World of Top Gear' featuring vehicles from some of the most ambitious challenges are also showcased, said in a statement. This particular example proved just how enduring the Ambassador really is when it saw off rivals from Britain, America, Germany, South Africa, Mexico and Russia to be named the world's best taxi, it added.
The Ambassador started life in Britain as the Morris Oxford but, with a quick name change, it went on to become one of most enduring vehicles in this part of the world. "Ambassador is so tough that, although it now lives in World of Top Gear, with a quick wash and brush up, it could be back in service tomorrow – probably," the statement said.
In 1948, the CK Birla Group firm Hindustan Motors began production of the Ambassador at Uttarpara in Hooghly district of Bengal. Till the arrival of the Maruti in the early 80s, the Ambassador was the status symbol in India. Gradually it lost out to various global competitors when it came to personal usage but continued to be the favourite vehicle for government officials and also in the taxi segment.
In the recent past, its sales in both the segments have shown a decline and in 2012-13, the Ambassador sold a total of just 3,390 units. This fiscal, it has sold only 709 units in the April-June period.
