Tata Motors continues to maintain a strong presence in the market with its range of vehicles, and there was a time when the Tata Sumo quickly captured the hearts of the public. However, there is an interesting story behind the name of this iconic car that not many know. While cars like the Maruti 800, 1000, and Esteem were popular choices at the time, Tata Motors, under Ratan Tata’s leadership, introduced the Tata Sumo MUV in the 1990s, which went on to become one of the most successful vehicles in India. In just three years, over 1 lakh units were sold.
But where did the name Tata Sumo come from? Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t inspired by Japanese sumo wrestlers. The vehicle was actually named after Sumant Moolgaokar, the then-managing director of Tata Motors and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
Every day, the top executives of Tata Motors would gather for lunch, but Sumant Moolgaokar would regularly excuse himself, only to return a few hours later. Rumors began circulating within the management that he was skipping team lunches to enjoy meals at nearby five-star hotels, courtesy of some Tata dealers.
Curious to uncover the truth, a few workers from Tata Motors decided to follow him one day. To their surprise, they found Moolgaokar eating at a roadside dhaba, sharing a meal with truck drivers. This was his unique approach to research and development. During these meals, he would engage with the drivers, discussing the issues and challenges they faced while using Tata vehicles. After gathering their insights, he would return to the office and relay the necessary improvements to Tata’s design and R&D teams.
Moolgaokar’s hands-on approach earned him recognition as the driving force behind Tata’s success. The initials of his name, Su-mant Mo-olgaokar, inspired the name of the iconic Tata Sumo SUV. His vision and dedication were instrumental in advancing Tata Motors’ innovation and development efforts. In honor of his contributions, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1990, one of India’s highest civilian honors.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest Viral News on India.com.