The Legendary Hindustan Motors Ambassador was an automobile manufactured by Hindustan Motors of India at its Uttarpara plant near Kolkata, West Bengal. It was in production for a large duration of 56 years from 1958 to 2014 with minimal improvements and changes. The Hindustan Motors Ambassador was based on the design of Morris Oxford series III model, manufactured by Morris Motors Limited at Cowley, Oxford in the United Kingdom from 1956 to 1959.

On 11 February 2017, Hindustan Motors had sold Ambassador brand, including the trademarks for Rs 80 crore to PSA Group. They have a tie-up for two joint venture agreements.

Despite its British origin, the Hindustan Motors Ambassador is considered as a definitive Indian car and is entitled as the "King of Indian roads". 

Design and development

The Hindustan Motors Ambassador was based on the design of Morris Oxford Series - III, manufactured by Morris, which was a part of British Motor Corporation. In 1956 Morris Motors sold the rights and tooling to Hindustan Motors. It had even done this for its previous Series-I and Series-II models which were sold by Hindustan Motors as Hindustan 10 and Landmaster. The Oxford Series-III model itself was a developed from the Morris Oxford Series-II model which was developed before the Austin Motors and Morris Motors have merged. This car was quite spacious due to its semi-monocoque design which was a remarkable advancement in vehicle engineering. This car was designed by Alec Issigonis who have also designed the famous Mini and Morris Minor.

Production years

The Hindustan Motors Ambassador was one of only a handful couple of autos that were underway after the 1954 government approach of advancing astute Automobile industry. It was a market dominator for its roomy size contrasted with its opponents like Premier Padmini and Standard 10. Be that as it may, from mid-80's it seen the start of defeat of its predominance when Maruti Suzuki has presented its current composed and low-estimated Maruti 800 hatchback. In the mid-1990s, the Hindustan Motors Ambassador lost further predominance and piece of the overall industry when automakers around the globe started setting up shops in India, and offered models with contemporary plans and innovation. The Hindustan Motors Ambassador has stayed as the decision of a lessening offer of civil servants and government officials, and as taxi. It is still being used as a taxi in some Indian urban communities.

Because of frail demand and financing issues Hindustan Motors Ambassador production at its plant outside the city of Kolkata was stopped. The organization had sold 2,200 Ambassadors in the monetary year which finished in March 2014, preceding the generation was ceased.

Evolution

The Hindustan Motors Ambassador has been in continuous production since its launch, with very few improvements. Hindustan Motors shifted its assembly plant in 1948 from Port Okha in Gujarat to Uttarpara plant in West Bengal and increased its manufacturing capacity. 3 years after the Morris Oxford Series-II was launch in England, it was licence-built at Uttarpara, as the 1957 Hindustan Motors Landmaster. Hindustan Motors was the only manufacturing facility in the world to manufacture the parts for Bedford trucks. A year after BS IV emission standards were rolled out in 11 Indian cities, sale of Hindustan Motors Ambassador taxis has been banned. However, Hindustan Motors have started to fit the cars with a new, smoothened diesel engine, to follow the new emission norms; and has been able to resume taxi service in cities in which it was banned. The Hindustan Motors Ambassador is still a familiar sight on India's roads.

Hindustan Motors Ambassador