Small Cars May Draw Big Crowds At Auto Expo

Small is beautiful, at least car manufacturers seem to think so as foreign and domestic players in the sector assemble in the capital to exhibit their new models at Auto Expo 1998 which begins from January 15.

The week-long Auto Expo 1998 is being jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Association of Indian Automobiles Manufacturers and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India.

Nearly 800 exhibitors, virtually the whos who in the automobile industry, are participating this time making the expo making it Asias largest automobile show.

General Motors (GM), Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Daewoo, Mitsubishi and Fiat, among others, are expected to display their latest models with an eye on the Indian market.

 

The Korean major Hyundai, with its 100 per cent Indian subsidiary currently engaged in the operation of building a factory near Chennai, is expected to unveil its Atos model during, though the company is planning to make Accent cars in India.

Toyota, which has entered into a joint venture with the Kirloskar group to make utility vehicles in India, is expected to unveil the 1997 version of its popular Corolla model.

Daewoo Motors, which currently makes the Ceilo luxury cars in India, will unveil its DArts. The company has firmed up plans to manufacture Royale and Caravan buses.

The domestic automobile company, Telco, is expected to display its `small car, Indica, often cited as chairman Ratan Tatas dream project.

The two small cars from Daewoo and Telco are angling for a share the pie with Indias largest passenger car company, Maruti Udyog Ltd.

GM, after having tasted success with its Astra model in its joint venture with the Birlas, has more in store for India since the visit of chairman Jack Smith to the country last year.

GM will display its `Opel Corsa, a small car that is expected to be introduced in India in the future, and the Opel Vectra luxury car. It will also unveil a four-wheel drive Frontera.

GMs American rival Ford, currently operating in India on a 50:50 joint venture with Mahindra and Mahindra that makes the `Ford Escort cars, will display its Mondeo model. Ford also plans to introduce Fiesta and Ka besides a more powerful version of Ford Escort.

Honda, which has a 90:10 joint venture with Siel Ltd of Siddarth Shriram, will display the City model which is to be launched later this month in the country.

Another attraction of the show will be the now infamous twin-eyed E-Class Mercedes Benz, that failed the ELK test in Europe.

The other vehicle segments would include Volvos trucks and buses, trucks from Tatra of Czechoslovakia, buses from Scania of Sweden, the Pajero of Mitsubishi and a host of contemporary two-wheelers.

The exposition would also cover accessories, machinery, materials, equipment and tooling, garage and service equipment and environment and safety equipment.

Overseas buying missions from Spain, Germany, Sri Lanka, Italy, France, Australia, Pakistan, Canada and the UK are also expected.