South India's biggest auto expo opens in Bangalore

BMW 7 Series, Skoda Combi, Suzuki Swift main attractions

The ten-day automobile extravaganza - Vaahan Yatra - got underway at the Bangalore Palace here on Friday. The 4th edition of south India's biggest auto exhibition-cum-sale was inaugurated by state transport minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

Leading national and international automobile companies including BMW, Skoda, Maruti Udyog, M&M, TVS Motors and Tata Motors are among the 70 companies showcasing their products at the event. Different models of two-wheelers, cars, certified seconds, accessories and audio systems are on display.

The main attraction is the BMW 7 series 7.4 LI priced at Rs 1.1 crore. Navnit Motors, the sole dealer and importer of BMW cars in India have showcased this car for the first time in south India.

Also on display are the 6 series and 5 series cars from BMW. Skoda's new variants Skoda Combi and Skoda RS, Swift from MUL, Indigo GX and Dicor from Tata Motors, Star City and Victor Edge from TVS, Comet and Kinetic 4S from Kinetic Engineering are on display in a 50,000 sqft. fully AC enclosure. The expo is open from 10 am till 9 pm up to October 16. The entry fee is Rs 49.

However, the main attraction was an aircraft from the US-based Indus Aviations Inc for a package deal of Rs 40.80 lakh, including licence, six months' training and DGCA clearance.

India's first ever indigenous ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) called as the "Roadster" was launched at the show by Chinkara Motors from Alibaugh, Maharashtra. Also on display from Chinkara is a sports car Called 'Speedster'. Chinkara is a company run by a German couple Guido Bothe and Shama Bothe and their client list includes the top celebs in India.

Kanda Motorcycles Ltd, a new entrant in the Indian two-wheeler industry, are showcasing "Kanda bikes" in the 100cc,125cc and 150 cc category. This is a Rs 300 crore group headed by a London based NRI. The company has its assembly line in Pune.