Ambassador Cars: 5 Management Lessons

No, I am no car freak. Nor do I have too much interest in cars. But may be, the demise of the Ambassador Car is a reason good enough to write something on it. So let us take a look at 5 management lessons that the Ambassador cars taught us:

1. Understand what the customer wants
   Every organisation needs to understand what the customer wants. In case of Ambassador, customers did not want a heavy, antique car, where seats resembled a sofa set.
2. Don't wait for the competition to eat away your market share
   Better, cannibalize your products with newer ones. We see that happening across industry segments - from cellular phones to cars. Newer products and variants are being launched at an unprecedented rate to save the market share.
3. Change with the times
   How often have we heard the cliche that "change is the only constant". If only Hindustan Motors had understood this, and made changes to the designs and features of the car, in all probability this article wouldn't have been written.
4. It is indeed sometimes too late to start
   Well, since childhood we have been taught that it's never too late to start. False.  Sometimes organisations wait for so long to bring about change or start something new that it is indeed too late. Hindustan Motors was too late in hiring new designers, new management, etc. May be, it is safer to stick to the saying, "A stitch in time saves nine". 
5. Accept that you have lost the war.For the past several years, market share had been declining and losses mounting. Several steps were taken, but none brought about any significant improvements, and the situation deteriorated even more. How tough it may be, one needs to face the reality and accept defeat so that more resources are not wasted fighting a lost war.

However, all said and done, it cannot be denied that Ambassador was once indeed one of the most loved vehicles in India. The white government vehicles with red beacons and yellow taxis used to stand apart and instill a sense of pride. And surely, The City of Joy would never have had the same charm without Ambassador cars...

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