Chandigarh has a new obsession and it sits tall, square and unapologetically loud on the road. The Thar, once the classic rural workhorse seen bouncing across fields in Punjab, has become the city’s latest style statement. And behind the wheel of this shift is a growing tribe of women drivers.

Data from the Chandigarh Registering and Licensing Authority captures the scale of the surge: 600 Thars registered so far in 2025, with a month still left in the year. This is already the highest ever for the city.

The trajectory has been dramatic. Only 6 Thars were registered in 2021. The number rose to 82 in 2022, then jumped to 206 in 2023. It dipped to 152 in 2024 before shooting up again this year. In the fifteen years before 2021, the total stood at 495.

But the real shift is cultural.

Mehak Sidhu, owner of Thar ROXX and a make up artist, said the vehicle has crossed over from the fringes into full urban culture. “The craze for Thars and Jeeps has moved far beyond the rural fringes of Punjab and firmly entered urban lifestyles. What once started as a rugged, utility-driven choice in the outskirts has evolved into a full-blown culture,” she said.

For Sidhu, the appeal is tied to identity. “It is a matter of pride, a feeling of control and a touch of unmistakable Punjabi swagger. The rise of women drivers like me choosing the Thar is noticeable. A strong vehicle belongs to anyone who enjoys the drive.”

She said the Thar is now everywhere, from weddings and weekend drives to club outings and office commutes, helped along by better roads, social media and a hunger for standout wheels.

For many women, the vehicle is more than a purchase.

Amandeep Kaur, a scientist working on drug and vaccine development and a cancer survivor, said the Thar has been both freedom and defiance for her. Diagnosed with cancer in 2015 just two months after her marriage and later going through a divorce, she said she wanted to chase the one dream she had put on hold: biking in the mountains.

“But my parents wouldn’t allow a bike so they asked me to purchase a Thar,” she said. “It fulfilled my desire for adventure. Thar gives you a feeling that yes we are ready to face you guys, we are ready to take it on. It gives you a feeling of freedom.”

Kritika, an entrepreneur and another Thar owner, described the experience as transformative. “Buying a Thar was more than just getting a car. It made me feel bold, happy and truly in my own space. The moment you sit behind the wheel, everything changes, the way you feel, the way people see you. For women drivers, it is not just about driving, it is about owning your power.”

That sense of command is what drew a senior woman journalist too. “People don’t mess with women who are driving jeeps,” she said. “It is a powerful vehicle with swag. One feels safe on the roads.”

Dealers are seeing the trend firsthand. A leading Thar dealer in Chandigarh said the redesign after 2020 made the Thar a phenomenon. “It was always a cult brand. After the redesign, people got the 4*4 feature along with automatic options and modern car elements. And then there is its road dominance. A lot of women in Chandigarh are driving it. It is strong and now preferred by both the old and the young.”

The cult extends beyond looks. Amandeep Singh, who works at a Royal Enfield store in Chandigarh and owns a Thar, said it is “a cheap, proper big SUV” with unmatched space. “In Punjab there are car and bike cults. People don’t like adapting to new changes. Look at the Scorpio. There is demand for the newer model pan India yet Mahindra could not stop producing the older Scorpio. They relaunched it as Scorpio Classic. Same happened with Bullet Standard 350.”

From a rural symbol of grit to an urban emblem of swagger and freedom, the Thar has found a new home in Chandigarh. And women are steering that shift with confidence, presence and their own brand of power.