The continued slowdown in the automobile industry in India has failed to upset the plans of carmakers for the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo, which is being touted as one of the biggest up till now.
The number of vehicle launches, including cars as well as bikes, this year is expected to be nearly 70, against about 45 during the last auto show in 2012. Of these, 26 would be global unveilings.
The biennial event, which will kick-off on February 7, will be held outside the national capital for the first time at Greater Noida, the total space this year being 64,000 sq mt as against 44,000 sq mt in the last edition.
From entry-level cars to luxury sedans and electric and hybrid concept cars, the show will have it all to pep up the sector which has seen decline in sales over the past few quarters. “Auto Expo has always been one of the most suitable platforms for auto makers to showcase their capabilities. Most of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) try to drive traffic towards their brands through launching new products or by showcasing futuristic concepts,” Amit Kaushik, Principal Analyst (automobile), IHS Automotive, told The Hindu .
Among the most eagerly awaited launches is the Celerio from the stable of market leader Maruti Suzuki. The hatchback will cater to the growing demand for vehicles with automatic gear shift in the country.
Hyundai, too, will be unveiling its new compact sedan next week, besides launching the new Santa Fe SUV. Honda will unveil the much- awaited new Jazz hatchback as well as Mobilio MPV.
Besides, Toyota will showcase all new Corolla Altis and new Etios Cross and American car maker Ford will unveil a new global concept vehicle at this year’s show.
GM India will be launching the all-new Beat apart from showcasing products such Camaro ZL1, Corvette Stingray C7 and Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV.
Volkswagen will be showcasing its Taigun. Renault will unveil an upgraded version of its Duster SUV. Mahindra & Mahindra will unveil hybrid version of the XUV500.
Seeing the growing demand for luxury cars in India, makers such as Audi and BMW, too, are all geared up for the 12th edition of the expo.Audi will unveil the A3 sedan and RS 7 sports car, while BMW will launch the all-new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo and introduce BMW i in India.
On the two-wheelers side, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) has a line-up of seven models, including global showcases for the expo. Market leader Hero MotoCorp will also showcase a variety of new models and concepts, while iconic bikemaker Harley Davidson will unveil the Street 750 bike.
Overall, the 12th edition of the Delhi Auto Expo has all ingredients to add to the excitement to the struggling sector. The event is being jointly organised by industry bodies Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). They are hopeful of a footfall of about one lakh per day.
