Delhi auto show to attract record visitors

With global automakers unveiling 10 all-new models, the tenth edition of the Delhi Auto Expo is billed to be the largest ever in India, and possibly the largest in the world so far. The show, which kicks off on 5 January, promises an exciting week for auto lovers.

"We expect nearly 1.8 million visitors to the expo," said Rajive Kaul, chairman of the steering committee for Auto Expo 2010. "We have cut short the auto expo by two days this year as we were not certain about the global economic conditions."

''The 2010 Auto Expo will be bigger, brighter and better than the previous shows. The growing number of visitors indicates the rising importance of India as a key automobile destination,'' said Pawan Goenka, president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and also president of Mahindra & Mahindra, India's largest utility vehicles maker.

Dilip Chenoy, director-general of SIAM, agreed. "This will be the largest show in terms of footfalls as some of the auto shows overseas saw reduced participation," he said. The Auto Expo is jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), SIAM and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India.

Suzuki Motor Corp, Honda Motor Co Ltd, and Toyota Motor Corp will be among those unveiling cars at the expo, which Kaul says will have 2,100 participants from 30 countries.

While Tata Motor Co's 'Nano' was the showstopper in the last edition of the show two years back, this time visitors can expect a string of new launches, including small cars, hybrid and electric vehicles.