Why car names matter in the Indian market

In India, a car’s name is not just a label – it becomes part of the family. People often refer to their cars by model name like Scorpio, Innova or Nexon, more than the company name itself. That’s why carmakers put serious thought into naming their vehicles. The name becomes the car’s identity and shapes how customers connect with it.

The process car companies follow to name cars in India

Car companies don’t just pick names at random. They follow a detailed, multi-step process that combines creativity, cultural understanding, and legal clearances. Here's how it usually works:

Real example: How Tata Motors named the Nexon

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, shared how Tata names its cars. He explained that the process starts by understanding the car’s core identity – is it youthful, rugged, or tech-savvy?

For example, the name ‘Nexon’ comes from “next-level” – it was meant to reflect a futuristic SUV with advanced design, safety, and tech. The name went through multiple levels of checks – linguistic, cultural, legal – before getting approved.

Skoda’s public contest: How the name ‘Kylaq’ was born

Skoda Auto India tried a unique method. They launched a public campaign asking people to suggest a name starting with ‘K’ and ending with ‘Q’, to match their SUV naming pattern.

They received over 2,00,000 entries. The winning name was ‘Kylaq’, inspired by the Sanskrit word for ‘crystal’ and influenced by Mount Kailash. This gave the car a culturally rooted identity and also created public engagement before its launch.

Popular car naming styles used by Indian car companies

Each Indian carmaker has its own naming strategy. Some use bold names, some keep it simple, while others go for emotional or cultural resonance. Here's how popular brands name their cars:

How luxury carmakers like BMW name their cars

Luxury carmakers like BMW don’t localise much. They follow a strict, globally consistent naming format. Hardeep Singh Brar, BMW Group India CEO, explained that BMW has a dedicated department called “Strategic Naming and Vehicle Identification.”

This is how their naming system works:

BMW also uses special letters for specific car lines:

• ‘M’ – High-performance cars like M340i or X5 M
• ‘i’ – Electric models under the BMW i brand

What’s the difference between mass-market and luxury car naming?

The difference lies in the priorities:

Despite different approaches, the goal is the same — to create a name that connects with customers and stays in their minds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

In India, a car’s name often becomes its identity. People connect with names emotionally, especially when the car is part of the family. A strong name helps build trust and recall.

How do Indian carmakers choose car names?

They go through a step-by-step process — starting from product understanding, brainstorming, language checks, trademark clearance, focus group testing, and top management approval.

What cultural checks are done while naming a car?

Names are tested in multiple Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali to ensure they don’t mean something negative or funny.

What’s the story behind Tata Nexon’s name?

‘Nexon’ was inspired by “next-level” – representing futuristic design, safety, and technology. It reflects the car’s modern appeal and was finalised after various evaluations.

How did Skoda come up with the name ‘Kylaq’?

Skoda launched a public contest asking for names starting with ‘K’ and ending with ‘Q’. The winning name ‘Kylaq’ is rooted in Sanskrit and references the Kailash mountain.

Why do luxury carmakers like BMW not use local names?

Luxury brands like BMW aim for global consistency. They follow structured naming formats that work across countries, focusing more on performance, tech, and model identity.

What do the numbers and letters in BMW car names mean?

The first digit shows the series, the next two indicate performance, and the letters like ‘xDrive’ or ‘sDrive’ show the drive system. Special letters like ‘M’ or ‘i’ denote high-performance or electric models.