2014 Delhi Auto Expo floor space sold out

  • Jul 19, 2013
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Despite the slowdown of the Indian automobile market, global automakers have bought all the available space for the 12th Delhi Auto Expo next year

Honda Brio at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

India's distressing slowdown may have hit carmakers hard with sales falling to a record eight months in a row, but it has not shaken their confidence. Global automakers have already bought all the available space for the next Delhi Auto Expo.

The five-day mega motoring event, scheduled to start on February 5 next year, is already sold out to 40 automakers including some significant first-timers including Chrysler, Isuzu Motors and Hyosung. 

"Even as the Indian market is reeling under severe slowdown, we have seen an unexpected gush of automakers," said Sugata Sen, deputy director general at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers SIAM) that organises the auto show. 

The heavy rush of auto companies has prompted the organisers to move the 28-year-old show out of New Delhi's Pragati Maidan to a new much larger and fully air-conditioned venue at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, he said. 

"We are planning to have this Auto Expo on a grand scale next year. We will have the largest number of companies participating displaying of highest number of cars, bikes and other vehicles even shown in India," Sen said. 

America's third largest carmaker Chrysler will showcase its iconic Jeep and Wrangler badges while Chinese SUV specialist Great Wall Motors will debut Haval H5 along with its hatchbacks and sedans. Japanese carmakers that account for more than 60% of car sales in India can look to improve that number with at least two new entrants — Isuzu Motors and Datsun, Nissan's revived low-cost brand. 

In the bikes segment, South Korean Hyosung will showcase its latest offerings at the 12th Delhi Auto Expo. 

Peugeot at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

Automakers from across the world will showcase their new cars and future technologies at what will be India's largest auto show to be spread over 47,000 sq metres. 

The beaming sentiments about the auto show contradicts the market situation where all major carmakers including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Toyota Kirloskar Motors are cutting production and going for periodic shutdowns to control their swelling inventories at factories and the dealerships due to sales slump. Car sales fell 9% in June to 1.39 lakh units, marking the eighth straight monthly slide. 

Yet, industry officials expect the auto show to have the biggest display of vehicles with over two-dozen new launches and concepts likely to be unveiled and showcased. Almost half a dozen SUVs are expected to be launched at the fair including Chrysler's Jeep, Honda's all-new urban SUV and Maruti Suzuki's Alpha X, based on the Swift platform. 

"It could be a show of SUV as the market is driven by the success of the newly-launched Renault Duster or Ford EcoSport," a senior Maruti Suzuki executive said. "Though hatchbacks and sedans would also have their share of limelight, but an array of SUV launches are expected to steal the show," added the person working closely with the auto expo plans.

The utility vehicle market including SUVs grew by a whopping 52% to 5.53 lakh vehicles in FY12 and continue to remain positive on sales charts for the ongoing fiscal. 

The Delhi Auto Expo is Asia's largest motoring event and one of the largest motor shows in terms of visitor footfalls. In the last fair, in 2012 a record 2 million people visited the show.

Also read: 2012 Delhi Auto Expo : Special Coverage 

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