By creckk On 11-10-2025 at 12:31 pm
How Car Companies in India Name Their Cars: Process, Culture, and Real Examples
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:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Understand the Product | Start with the product's features, audience, and personality. |
| 2. Brainstorm Names | Marketing and product teams list hundreds of potential names. |
| 3. Language & Cultural Check | Ensure the name doesn't sound odd or offensive in Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or Bengali. |
| 4. Legal Clearance | Check trademark availability in India and globally. |
| 5. Focus Group Testing | Some names are tested with customers to check recall and acceptability. |
| 6. Final Approval | Senior leadership takes the final call, balancing creativity, culture, and legality. |
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:
| Car Brand | Example Car Names | Naming Style |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Motors | Harrier, Nexon, Safari, Punch | Bold, descriptive names reflecting strength, adventure, youth |
| Mahindra | Scorpio, Thar, XUV700 | Powerful, aggressive names often with alphanumeric series |
| Maruti Suzuki | Swift, Baleno, Brezza | Short, catchy, easy-to-recall names |
| Hyundai | Creta, Venue, Alcazar | Themed, global names that are simple and consistent |
| Toyota | Innova, Fortuner | Trust-based names that become household words |
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:
| Component | Meaning |
|---|---|
| First Digit | Indicates the series or model segment (e.g., 3 for 3 Series) |
| Next Two Digits | Represents performance (earlier based on engine displacement, now on power) |
| Letter(s) at the End | Denotes drive technology:
|
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:
| Mass-Market Brands | Luxury Brands |
|---|---|
| Focus on cultural relevance, local languages, and emotional connect | Follow structured, globally consistent naming systems |
| Aim to make names catchy and memorable in India | Names are designed for clarity and recognition across markets |
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.
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