A 796cc hatchback built with Suzuki. Indira Gandhi handed over the first one on 14 December 1983; the last left Gurgaon on 18 January 2014.
Sanjay Gandhi's Maruti Limited got a licence for a people's car and about 297 acres in Gurgaon. It never sold a car and was wound up after the Emergency.
Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash on 23 June 1980. The government revived his idea as Maruti Udyog Limited in February 1981.
The joint venture with Suzuki Motor was signed on 2 October 1982. Suzuki took 26% and brought its small-car design and factory methods.
Bookings opened in April 1983. By 8 June they had passed 1.35 lakh, years of output for a plant planned at about 20,000 cars a year.
Indira Gandhi handed the keys to Harpal Singh, an Indian Airlines employee chosen by draw. He paid Rs 47,500. The car was registered DIA 6479.
A rounder body based on Suzuki's newer Alto replaced the original, keeping the 796cc three-cylinder engine. This is the 800 most Indians remember.
After about two decades as India's best-selling car, the 800 was overtaken in 2004 by Maruti's own Alto.
BS-IV emission norms took effect in 13 major cities in April 2010. Maruti stopped selling the old 800 there instead of re-engineering it.
On 18 January 2014 a Firebrick Red 800, reportedly bound for Shillong, was the last car off the line. Maruti Suzuki counts over 29 lakh units.
After Harpal Singh died in 2010, DIA 6479 decayed outside his Delhi home. Maruti Suzuki bought it back, restored it and put it on display in 2022.
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