A unique vehicle, the Mahindra Naya Commander, produced from 2005 to 2010, had rugged off road capabilities, was able to seat 9, and had practical features. Back then, the Indian automotive market was still ruled by small hatchbacks and sedans and SUVs were looked at more as utilitarian vehicles than lifestyle choices. But in the years since the Naya Commander was discontinued, the Indian market has seen a clear shift to SUVs and crossovers as lifestyle vehicles. But many of these newer SUVs had the practicality, road presence and sense of adventure that the Naya Commander was also trying to offer. Given this trend, does the Naya Commander serve as a harbinger of today’s SUV boom in India? Was it a market need that it perhaps identified before the market itself was ready?