Big event for small cars : Auto Expo 2010

After the grand Auto Expo of 2008, where the little wonder Nano took the world by storm and Maruti’s A-Star announced its big entry into the export market, the upcoming event promises to be much more.

The upcoming Delhi Auto Expo in Jan 2010 is all set to get bigger and grander: more than 10 global launches and participants from 30 different countries are expected to showcase their swankiest and best possible offerings to the Indian masses.

These are clear signs of India emerging as an epicenter for the growth of global biggies.

Pawan Goenka, president of automotive at Mahindra & Mahindra and also the president of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association, said, “The expo is getting bigger by the day. We are very happy with the turn out.”

While the likes of Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors will launch their much awaited small cars Polo, Figo and Beat, Japanese majors Toyota and Honda will showcase the concept small car.

Maruti Suzuki too will have new launches with its own concept small car. In the truck space, there would be big launches from M&M, Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland.

In the two-wheeler space, Honda Motorcycle India will launch its first mass market motorcycle product Twister. Though the duration of expo has been reduced by two days, SIAM still expects over 1.8 million visitors through the entire week. The entire space was already booked three to four months in advance. Apart from the small car focus, there would be a huge focus on the green technology with hybrid vehicles and green engines. “There is a big push towards the green cars. We feel India can take a lead in providing solutions for the future,” Goenka says.

For sure, the international interest toward India is getting bigger and better by the day. An investment of close to Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore is in the pipeline. But the direction of policymakers will be very critical. Thanks to the positive push, the auto sector in India recovered faster than the world and now it will determine the investment for the future.