Did you know the Tata Sumo has been with us, in one form or another, since 1994? In other words, it has been a relentless workhorse for a staggering twenty-five years! However, its existence is officially over. Tata Motors has taken away the official Sumo website and production of the old-timer halted in April 2019.
The Sumo’s demise comes courtesy of some recently introduced and upcoming norms for the Indian automobile industry. Firstly, it was never updated to meet the AIS 145 safety norms which came into effect a few months ago. In other words, the Sumo never received basic safety features such as rear parking sensors, high-speed warning and ABS in any variant, let alone the standard kit. Secondly, its architecture was such that it would have never complied with Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) guidelines.
The final nail in its coffin came from the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms which, as we know, will be implemented for all new cars from April 1, 2020. A 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine powered the last derivative of the Sumo. Unfortunately for the people carrier, Tata Motors has no plans to upgrade this motor to meet the stricter emission standards. Replacing the engine with a new, more modern one couldn’t have made a business case either.
All-in-all, we’ve lost one of the oldest marques from Tata Motors. But we are not going to end this on a low note. Here’s a list of five fun facts that you probably didn’t know about the Sumo:
- The Sumo was Tata Motors’ third passenger vehicle, after the Sierra and the Estate.
- The 100,000th Sumo rolled out of the factory floor in 1997.
- Although it looked like a Sumo wrestler, its name was derived from the name of a former MD of Tata Motors – Sumant Moolgaokar.
- It was primarily designed for military use and begun its life as a ten-seater vehicle.
- The most powerful version was the Sumo Grande which had a 120hp, 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine from the Safari.
Also Read:
Tata Motors Kickstarts Festive Season Activities Early This Year
Tata Harrier Gets A Worthwhile Add-On
What's your reaction?
