Premier Logo

Established in Mumbai in 1944 by the visionary Indian entrepreneur Walchand Hirachand, Premier started its journey as The Premier Automobiles Limited. Interestingly, its foundation was inspired by the influential engineer M. Visvesvaraya and initially bore the moniker Walchand-Phatak Co.

The dawn of Indian independence in 1947 marked a pivotal phase for Premier. It ventured into automobile production, unveiling trucks and cars that year. The Premier President, their inaugural passenger car mirroring a Dodge design, saw its debut in 1947.

The subsequent decades, specifically the 1950s and 60s saw Premier’s collaboration with Fiat, wherein it crafted Fiat models under a licensing agreement, notably the Fiat 1100 Delight. Another significant milestone for Premier was the introduction of the Ambassador sedan in 1958. A rendition of the British Morris Oxford, this iconic vehicle was a staple on Indian roads for over five decades.

As the 1970s dawned, Premier unveiled the Premier Padmini lineup, rapidly gaining traction among Indian consumers and dominating the automotive market well into the 1980s. However, by the late 1990s, financial adversities began to plague Premier, causing its sales to plummet. The turn of the millennium witnessed sporadic halts in its production.

A major setback came in 2014 when Premier ceased its manufacturing operations after a commendable seven-decade run. While the brand still lies under the aegis of the Walchand Group, its trajectory remains ambiguous. Premier’s illustrious journey as a trailblazing native Indian automaker has seen its fair share of highs and lows, with global competitors gradually eroding its once-dominant market stance.