Premier

Premier was an Indian automobile marque of Premier Automobiles Limited, the Mumbai-based vehicle manufacturer founded in 1944 by Walchand Hirachand. It began by assembling and producing Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto, and Fargo vehicles under licence, then became one of the central names in post-independence Indian motoring through its long association with Fiat-based passenger cars. Its most important model was the Fiat 1100-derived car later sold as the Premier Padmini, which became one of the defining Indian cars of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Premier later expanded its range with the 118NE, based on Fiat and Nissan components.

In its later years the company also assembled the Peugeot 309 and Fiat Uno, then returned with utility vehicles such as the Sigma van, Roadstar pickup, and Rio compact SUV. Premier’s historical significance rested on its role as one of India’s foundational domestic automakers and on the enduring place of the Padmini in Indian urban transport, especially as a Mumbai taxi. The automotive business declined after liberalisation-era partnerships faltered, and the marque’s production activity had effectively ended by the late 2010s.