Car from Oman brings traffic to a stop in India
Not everyone in India knows about Oman. They are intrigued by the yellow licence plate as Oman doesn’t indicate the name of the country, as in other GCC states
DR NITHIN NAIR
Muscat - A Lotus Elise SC, an iconic British made supercar, wearing an Omani number plate has been turning heads in India.
Likely the first of its kind car seen not only in India but also Oman, owner Dr Nithin Nair has taken the Lotus Elise SC to his hometown Trivandrum in the southern Indian state of Kerala for a holiday. It was intended to be a quiet trip to unwind, albeit in style. But the car has become the talk of the town.
The attention on Nair’s new toy in Trivandrum deflects the spotlight 2,500km away – as the crow flies – on Oman thanks to its number plate. Most don’t identify the origin of the yellow plate instantly, but it isn’t long before they do, and in turn also learn about the sultanate.
The Lotus Elise SC is a twoseat, rear-wheel drive, mid-engine roadster first released in September 1996 by Lotus Cars. The Elise has a fibreglass body shell that keeps weight and production costs to a minimum.
Nair, CEO of Axis Group of Companies which has operations in the UAE, India, Bahrain and Georgia, besides Oman, is known for his passion for cars and doing things out of the ordinary, like his recent break in Trivandrum with his Lotus.
He becomes the centre of attraction everywhere he goes with his Lotus (sometimes without it, as fame as its owner precedes him).
Journalists, bloggers, vloggers and other social media influencers fall over each other to interview Nair, shoot photos and videos of his car and for a slice of the pie.
He is proffered free car washes, detailing, ceramic coating and other freebies by local businesses to allow photos and videos to be shot of his car for advertisements to showcase
their products and services.
Elsewhere, he obliges car enthusiasts who simply flag him down to take photos of the Lotus.
"The sheer number of automobile enthusiasts in Kerala surprises me. Everywhere I go, I encounter people waving out, aiming their mobile phones for quick shots and posting them on social media. Pictures of my Lotus are constantly being tagged in my notifications," Nair said.
“The car is all over social media. It is particularly popular among the youth and fans of the Need for Speed video game," he said, adding that the number plate makes the car enthusiasts curious about its origin.
He describes the attention as
“good publicity for Oman as a favourable country in the Arabian gulf” offering high-end brands and lifestyles.
"Not everyone in India knows about Oman. They are intrigued by the yellow licence plate as Oman doesn't indicate the name of the country, as in other GCC states," Nair said. He also shares information about drift competitions conducted by Oman Automobile Association (OAA) and its circuits with enthusiasts.
The procedures involved in taking a vehicle from Oman to India make most people curious. It can be done through Carnet, he informed, adding that the formalities are completed through OAA and require a bank guarantee based on the value of the vehicle.
Additionally, an exit NOC from Royal Oman Police and third-party insurance from Indian Automobile Association are needed before a car can be shipped to India.