The first car to run on our roads did so sometime in 1897, but it wasn't until late 1940s that we started manufacturing cars.

However, nationalisation and license-raj kept the industry from growing, and it wasn't until after 1970 that the industry finally picked up pace.

After restrictions were placed on the import of vehicles, Japanese manufacturers entered the Indian market, which consequently led to the establishment of Maruti Udyog.

And thus began India's whirlwind romance with four-wheelers, which only grows stronger by the day.

In terms of area, India is the seventh largest country, and the second largest country in terms of population. With over 1.2 billion residents, there is no doubt that the number of vehicles on our roads must be huge too.

Statistically speaking, the Indian passenger and commercial vehicle manufacturing industry is the sixth largest in the world, and we are also the sixth largest producers of passenger vehicles.

Passenger vehicles constitute for 16-18 per cent of the Indian automobile segment, with a registered sale of three million units during 2011-12.

Data collected by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) reveals that this segment recorded a growth of 2.9 per cent in the fiscal year of 2011-12.

Going by these figures and stats, it has been established that cars are an important part of the lives of most Indian families.

Here then is a lowdown of the cars on the most popular cars in the countries.

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