The TATA Indica, launched in 1998, was India’s first fully indigenous passenger car designed by Tata Motors. Its design, created in partnership with the Italian design firm IDEA Institute, was a small hatchback with rounded, European-inspired style. At a time when the combination of a diesel engine, a roomy cabin, and fuel efficiency was uncommon in small automobiles, the Indica stood out. Manufacturing took place at Tata’s Pune facility using a high degree of local content. For durability and safety, the body structure was constructed using steel monocoque, while the bumpers, interior panels, and trim were made of plastic and fibre-reinforced materials. With its 1.4L diesel engine (and later gasoline variants), independent suspension, and front-wheel drive, the automobile was reasonably priced and useful. The TATA Indica, which marked Tata Motors' entry into the passenger automobile market, marked a turning point in India's automotive history.