These are some of the most iconic celebrity endorsements for cars in India, including some partnerships that are still continuing

Brands often use celebrity endorsements to attract potential customers and make their products more appealing, and carmakers are no exception. In addition to regular product updates and improvements, car brands in India have partnered with various popular celebrities over the past two decades. Here is a list of the top 10 Indian celebrities who have acted as brand ambassadors in the country’s automotive industry:

Sachin Tendulkar – BMW India and Fiat Palio

Sachin Tendulkar, an iconic figure in Indian cricket, endorses many products and serves as a brand ambassador for numerous companies. One of these companies is BMW India, which appointed Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador in 2012.

But BMW wasn’t the first car brand to have Sachin endorse their products. In 2001, Fiat made Sachin Tendulkar the brand ambassador for its soon-to-be-launched model, the Fiat Palio. Fiat even created a special limited edition of the Palio dedicated to Sachin called the S10, which combined his initials and jersey number. Sachin Tendulkar himself launched the Palio S10.

Shah Rukh Khan – Hyundai Santro and Hyundai i10

Shah Rukh Khan, the King of Bollywood, is known for endorsing various products. In the automotive world, he was signed as the brand ambassador for Hyundai Santro when it was launched in 1998. SRK later went on to endorse the Hyundai i10 and has since become an integral part of Hyundai’s brand image. Recently, the carmaker appointed cricketer Hardik Pandya as the brand ambassador for their upcoming micro-SUV, the Hyundai Exter.

Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan – Maruti Versa

Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek were signed as the brand ambassadors for Maruti Versa, a people mover launched in 2001. Maruti introduced the father-son duo as the faces of its MPV, and both Bachchans launched the Versa together. The ad campaign featured both Bachchans in the MPV, with Abhishek driving and Amitabh sitting in the second-row seat.

Also Read: Official: Maruti Invicto Is The Name Of The New MPV Based On The Toyota Innova Hycross

Abhishek Bachchan also endorsed the Ford Fiesta in 2006 but was not a brand ambassador.

Aamir Khan – Toyota Innova

Aamir Khan endorsed one of Toyota’s most popular models in India, the Toyota Innova. He served as the brand ambassador for the MPV when it was first launched in 2005. The Innova is still available in the country, with options like the diesel-only Innova Crysta and the Innova Hycross, which offers a strong hybrid powertrain.

Virat Kohli – Audi India

Virat Kohli, former captain of the Indian cricket team and a car enthusiast, became the brand ambassador for Audi India in 2015. He owns several models from the German carmaker, including the R8, which he purchased in 2012. Virat Kohli’s jersey number, 18, is well-known among cricket fans and adds to his association with Audi.

Ranbir Kapoor – Renault India

In 2015, Renault signed actor Ranbir Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its range of cars. Before that, Ranbir had been the brand ambassador for Nissan Micra. Ranbir later endorsed Renault models like the Duster and Kwid. In a Renault Kwid ad campaign, Ranbir disguised himself as a Renault salesman and showcased the car to a couple at a Renault dealership.

Ranveer Singh – Maruti Nexa

Ranveer Singh was roped in as the brand ambassador for Maruti’s Nexa range of cars in 2014. He first endorsed the Maruti Ciaz, followed by the Maruti XL6 and the Maruti Baleno. In the campaign for Maruti’s premium models, Ranveer Singh was often seen wearing a suit to highlight the cars’ premium nature, making him a suitable choice for the brand ambassador of Maruti’s Nexa lineup.

R Madhavan – Maruti Wagon R

Before Ranveer Singh became the brand ambassador for Maruti’s Nexa lineup, R Madhavan endorsed one of Maruti’s popular models, the Maruti Wagon R. In 2009, Maruti signed R Madhavan, known for his role in the movie 3 Idiots, as the brand ambassador for the third-generation Wagon R. One of the TV ads showed Madhavan traveling with his friends and singing about the Wagon R’s features and ride quality.

John Abraham – Nissan India

John Abraham, an avid bike and car enthusiast, became the brand ambassador for Nissan India in 2016. He endorsed the carmaker’s upcoming models in the country and was present at the 2016 Auto Expo, where he promoted the Nissan X-Trail and the GT-R. John Abraham also owns a GT-R himself.

Sunil Shetty – Ford Endeavour

In 2009, Ford India signed actor Sunil Shetty as the brand ambassador for the Ford Endeavour, their premium SUV model. The 2009 Ford Endeavour came with diesel engine options and both 4X2 and 4X4 drivetrains. However, Ford eventually decided to withdraw from the Indian market in 2020 due to significant losses.

Also Read: Remembering Ford Endeavour: One Of The Best SUVs That We Had

Let us know in the comments which celebrity endorsement surprised you the most, or if you have any favorite ambassadors that aren’t on this list.

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