BW Communities

Global Carmakers To Go Greener At Delhi Expo

Poonam Singh Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[If it is January, then it is time for the auto expo, one of the most awaited events every year. Auto Expo 2012 was kick-started with a curtain raiser ceremony on Tuesday (3 January 2012). This year, the theme is Green Technology and Clean Technology - Mobility For All — with special emphasis on safety and the need for environment-friendly fuels and vehicles, technological advancements and innovative designs in vehicles. The 11th Auto Expo 2012 organised by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is being held between January 7 and 11, 2012 at Pragati Maidan. Over 1,500 participants from 24 countries including Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan, Korea, the UAE, the UK, the US and many other countries will be present at the 11th Auto Expo. Over 600 automotive component players will be showcasing their latest technologies. Innovative products including fully built off-the-road vehicles too will be unveiled by a few. The automotive industry will be looking forward to launching 50 new vehicles including cars, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles to a range of electric and hybrid vehicles, besides modified vehicles. Global companies such as Polaris (USA), Triumph (UK), BMW (with Mini and Motorad range), Vespa, PSA Peugeot, Nissan, Ssangyong (Mahindra Group), Paccar (from the Netherlands) and almost all the Indian car makers are launching new variants. The debut of South Korea's Ssangyong, owned by Mahindra & Mahindra, and product launches from Toyota Motor Corp and Renault SA will underline the country's importance to the world's biggest carmakers. BMW AG, market leader in the luxury segment, will unveil its Mini brands in India for the first time. Carmakers are also set to muscle in on India's popular SUV segment, which fared better than smaller cars last year, with an offering from Maruti, a widely-anticipated four-wheel debut from motorcycle experts Bajaj Auto, and a multi-utility model launch from South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. Luxury carmakers, riding 40 per cent annual sales growth in India, will use the expo to increase their product lines, with Daimler AG's Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen AG's Audi rolling out new SUV and sports car models. Rajive Kaul, Chairman, steering committee, Auto Expo 2012 said: "This edition of auto expo would strive to boost the auto sector in spite of negative growth in the passenger vehicle and three wheeler segments in the last quarter of 2011. The auto expo thus begins with a positive note for the industry. The organiser has launched a few new facilities for its visitors. The gate number 10 of Pragati Maidan will be open especially for metro commuters and tickets will be available at metro ticket counters as well. Gate number five will be open for those who buy tickets from bookmyshow.