13 Cars In India which are known by Different Names Globally

Many of you reading this must’ve experienced this while scrolling down the internet or when you’re on a trip to a foreign land, you see cars that look exactly like the ones you see regularly on the Indian roads. But when you look closely, you see a different name on the boot lid or even a different badge on the hood of the car you remember from your homeland and you are baffled. To your surprise, you find out that the same cars go by different names or are sold under different brands in other countries.

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There are multiple reasons which due to which manufacturers to choose to opt for a different moniker to sell their cars in different parts of the world:

• Some monikers are already popular in the region, hence influencing sales
• Cars are launched as next-gen of an existing successful car
• Trademark issues (names are already trademarked by other brands in a region)
• Cars sold under subsidiary brands of the parent company in another country have different names.

Today we list some of the most popular cars in India which have different names Globally.

1. Hyundai Verna as Hyundai Accent

   

   In India, we remember the Accent as the highly capable sedan which used to rival the likes of Maruti Esteem back in the day. The Hyundai Verna was launched in 2006 as an offering in the segment above alongside the Hyundai Accent until the Accent was discontinued in India in 2013. But this wasn’t the case in the international markets. In the markets abroad, what we know as the Verna today is actually sold as the subsequent generations of the Hyundai Accent we got in India. So don’t surprised if you type ‘Hyundai Accent’ on google and the latest generation Verna pops on your screen.

2. Toyota Innova as Toyota Kijang Innova

   

   The benchmark for Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) in our country, The Innova and the Subsequent generation Innova Crysta have remained unbeatable in India. The name ‘Innova’ is a synonym for reliability and everlasting in the country. However, in other Asian markets, the MPV goes for all these things but with a slightly different name. In Southeast Asian markets like Indonesia and Thailand, the Innova goes by the name, “Kijang Innova”. The word “Kijang” represents a series of pickup trucks, light commercial vehicles, and MPVs sold by Toyota in the Southeast Asian market. Hence, to commemorate the heritage behind this name, the Innova wears this moniker in the markets abroad.

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3. Ford Endeavour as Ford Everest

   

   This mammoth vehicle we all are familiar with as the Ford Endeavour in India since it’s the first generation was launched in India in 2003. The same car, however, is sold in nearly 200 markets as the “Ford Everest”. The SUV is a 5-door version of the popular pick-up truck, Ford Ranger and Ford in India decided to launch it as a different brand altogether.

4. Maruti 800 as Suzuki Alto (JAP) & Suzuki Mehran (PAK)

   

   Now please note that this is an honourable mention. The quintessential “people’s car” of India, Maruti 800 (named after its engine capacity of 800cc) was launched in 1983. But that wasn’t the inception of the car. The same car existed in international markets in 1979 as the “Suzuki Alto” and the Alto we know of in India was the subsequent generation of the 800 in the international markets. The Alto is also a fairly renowned moniker globally and has helped Suzuki gain a lot of popularity. In Pakistan, the Maruti 800 is sold as the “Suzuki Mehran” since 1984 and still is a favourite of the masses having a phenomenal resale value

5. Honda Jazz as Honda Fit

   

   Jazz is a moniker that is used by Honda for ages for its various products, from tiny hatchbacks and motorcycles to Utility vehicles and even scooters. Hence while launching a premium hatchback, Honda decided to use the already famous name in Southeast Asian, European, and Middle Eastern Countries and also in India. However, the Honda Jazz goes by the name “Honda Fit” in markets like America and Japan.

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   P.s: International, the first-gen Honda City(Hatchback) was sold as Honda Jazz in European markets as the name “City” was trademarked by Opel in the region.

6. Honda City ZX as Honda Fit Aria (Japan)

   

   The Honda City ZX that we had in India was based on the platform of the First gen Honda Fit/Honda Jazz. Hence post the car’s debut at the Bangkok Motor Show in 2002, the Car was exported and sold in Japan as Honda Fit Aria. The word “Aria” signifies a type of expressive melody in mainstream opera.

7. Volkswagen Vento as Volkswagen Polo Sedan

   

   The Vento has always been based on the Volkswagen Polo’s platform with an extended wheelbase and a boot. Hence in markets like Thailand, South Africa, Russia, etc, the Volkswagen Vento is sold as the “Polo Sedan”. The “Polo” moniker has been with the brand for decades and is renowned all over the globe. Hence in some regions, Volkswagen has been selling the sedan as the Polo Sedan.P.s: The Vento name is also used as a rebadge for the Volkswagen Jetta in some markets.

8. Toyota Fortuner as Toyota SW4

   

   The Highly popular SUV by Toyota (Especially in the Southeast Asian markets) is the Fortuner. Even though in most of the markets it is sold in, it goes by the name “Fortuner” itself (name derived from the word “fortune”). But in countries like Brazil and Argentina, the car is developed and sold under the name “SW4”.

9. Skoda Laura as Skoda Octavia

   

   In India, The Skoda Laura was sold alongside the first-gen Skoda Octavia at a segment above it. However, globally the Skoda Laura was sold as the second-generation to Octavia. Soon after the first-gen Octavia was discontinued in India in 2010, the Laura was shifted to a segment below by reducing its prices and filling the void made by the Octavia.

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10. Maruti S-Cross as Suzuki SX4 S-Cross

    

    Both the pre-facelift and the facelift of the S-cross in India is sold as the “SX4 S-cross” globally. The reason behind it is that there was another generation preceding the SX4 in the international markets which was based on the SX4 sedan which we also had in India. Hence in order to associate the crossover to its sedan ancestor, Suzuki decided to retain the name.

11. Maruti Wagon R as Mazda AZ Wagon

    

    The tallboy hatchback which has been around in India since 1999 is also sold as the Wagon R by Suzuki globally. But Suzuki shares patent rights for the Wagon with the automaker Mazda and the car is rebadged as the “AZ Wagon” and sold by Mazda.

12. Renault Duster as Dacia Duster

    

    Renault has a Romanian car company named Dacia as its subsidiary and Renault’s immensely successful compact SUV, Duster is also sold under the Dacia Brand and goes by the same name.

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13. MG Hector as Baojun 530 / Chevrolet Captiva

    

    The fairly new entrant in the Indian auto market, MG Motors, is currently owned by the Chinese automotive conglomerate, SIAC. The MG Hector that is sold by the brand in India is originally SIAC’s authentic patent. Hence the same car is also sold by the name of Baojun 530 by the company. The car is also rebadged and sold as the latest gen Chevrolet Captiva.