Hindustan Motors Limited, a CK Birla Group company, announced that it has agreed to sell its ‘Contessa’ brand to SG Corporate Mobility Pvt Ltd for an undisclosed fee. According to a regulatory filing, on June 16, 2022, Hindustan Motors signed a Brand Transfer Agreement with SG Corporate Mobility Pvt Ltd for the transfer of the Contessa brand, consisting of the trademark along with the application number and certain related rights. The transfer of the Brand will be effective subject to the fulfillment of the terms and conditions set out in the Agreement.
The Contessa was a premium sedan sold in India Hindustan Motors from the 1980s to the early 2000s. It was positioned above the company’s then popular model ambassador. Though it managed to make a mark for itself in the market, the entry of players like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Ford and others in the Indian market posed a tough challenge for the brand which it could not handle and its phased out. Done.
Competition from global players also badly affected Hindustan Motors, which shut down its manufacturing unit in Uttarpara, West Bengal since 2014, as well as stopped production of the Ambassador car. Then in February 2017, the Ambassador brand was acquired by French automaker PSA Group (now part of Stelantis) for Rs 80 crore.
Days after the rumors of the Hindustan Motors ambassador making a comeback on the internet, a report later suggested that the iconic HM Contessa muscle car may be relaunched in the Indian market. To substantiate the return, the publication has shared the details of a trademark, which was started by Hindustan Motors Limited in March 2022 to register the name Contessa at its Kolkata corporate office.
Not only this, Hindustan Motors Director Uttam Bose mentioned in an interview that Hindustan Motors has entered into a joint venture with a company in Europe to manufacture electric two wheelers, which will later transform into electric four wheelers as well. So that it can be encouraged. Rumors of Ambassador’s Return
With inputs from PTI