The Hindu : Business : Biggest auto show opens today

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Thursday, Jan 10, 2008
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Business

Biggest auto show opens today

Sandeep Joshi

Around 2,000 exhibitors from 25 countries will participate

It will be twice the size of Tokyo motor show
Maruti Suzuki lines up fifth global car

— PHOTO: RAMESH SHARMA

SMOOTH RIDE: Models posing with the Skoda Fabia at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: A day before the formal inauguration of the Auto Expo 2008, country’s largest auto-maker Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday unveiled its global concept car ‘A Star’ and soon-to-be-launched ‘Splash’, while Tata Motors that will unveil it Rs. 1-lakh “people’s car” on Thursday, also introduced new variants of multi-utility vehicle ‘Sumo’ and sedan ‘Indigo’.

To be inaugurated by Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath, the expo will see participation of around 2,000 exhibitors from as many as 25 countries. “Accredited as the biggest auto expo in Asia by Organisation Internatinale Des Constructeurs D’automobiles, it is twice the size of Tokyo motor show,” said Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) President, Sanjay Labroo.

Maruti Suzuki has lined up its fifth global car, ‘A-Star’, to be manufactured only in India, besides ‘Splash’ and its D-segment car ‘Kizashi’. It has also displayed the SX4 WRC Rally Car, with which Suzuki Motor Corporation is entering the World Rally Championship for the first time this year.

Addressing media persons, Maruti Suzuki India new Managing Director and CEO, Shinzo Nakanishi, said: “Production of A-Star will begin in India from October this year and then subsequently exported overseas.”

Stating that Maruti will launch at least one new model in India every year to consolidate its market position, Mr. Nakanishi said the launch of Tata Motors’ Rs. 1-lakh car might have some impact on its sales. He, however, ruled out cutting down prices of its 800 model.

Tata Motors, which is showcasing a new range of 17 models in cars, utility vehicles, trucks and buses during the expo, launched new variants of multi-utility vehicle Sumo, sedan Indigo and Indica DICOR (Direct Injection Common Rail) version. The new version of the MUV, Sumo Grande, has been priced between Rs. 6.55 lakh and Rs. 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), while the price of Indigo CS (compact sedan) will be announced later. The company is also showcasing, for the first time, Xenon XT (Cross Terrain), a life-style pick-up to be launched later this year.

Fiat India showcased its four globally successful cars — Linea, Grande Punto, Fiat 500 and Bravo — all of these will be launched this year. “Fiat 500 and Bravo will be imported fully from Italy and delivery would start three months from now, while Linea and Grande Punto will be rolled out from its Ranjangaon unit by the end of this year,” said Fiat India Vice-Chairman, Alfredo Altavilla.

Luxury segment

Leading global luxury car manufacturers — Audi, BMW, Daimler, Skoda, Volvo and Volkswagen — unveiled their new range of hi-end cars that will soon be launched in the fast-growing Indian car market. Germany’s Audi introduced a new variant of its sedan ‘A4’. Priced at Rs. 30 lakh, the new variant of ‘A4’ 3.2 litre would be available with a choice of two petrol engines with power output range of 143 bhp and 265 bhp by mid-2008. It also plans to assemble its mid-size sedan ‘A6’ at the group facility in Aurangabad that would cut the model’s cost by Rs. 1.4-2.1 lakh.

Daimler also launched two models — Mercedes Benz ‘C class’ (to be available in petrol and diesel variants at Rs. 27 lakh and Rs. 30 lakh respectively) and ‘CLK Class’ priced at Rs. 60 lakh.

BMW, also headquartered in Germany, launched luxury ‘M’ series and ‘Individual’ series. While ‘M6’ coupe has been priced at a huge Rs. 1.24 crore, ‘M5’ sedan comes with a price tag of Rs. 1.01 crore and ‘M3’ coupe at Rs. 74.90 lakh. Similarly, ‘X5 4.8i’, under the Individual series, costs Rs. 79 lakh.

Skoda Auto launched its new premier hatchback ‘Fabia’ priced between Rs. 4.99 lakh and Rs. 7.68 lakh. Stating that it will launch a new sports utility vehicle for 2009, Skoda Auto India board member Thomas Kuehl said the company would be increasing its Aurangabad plant capacity to over 30,000 units from 12,600 units.

European car maker Volkswagen said it would launch ‘Jetta’ and luxury sedan ‘Phaeton’ in India this year, while it is studying the market for introducing SUV ‘Tiguan.’ It now sells ‘Passsat’ and ‘Touareg’ in India.

Volvo Car Corporation is showcasing its new sedan ‘C70’ at the Auto Expo, which it is planning to launch in India soon and is likely to be priced between Rs. 42 lakh and Rs. 45 lakh. The company already offers ‘S80’ as ‘XC90’.

Hindustan Motors, in association with Mitsubishi Motors, unveiled three new products — premier SUV ‘Outlander’, rally car ‘Lancer Evolution’ and concept car ‘i-MiEV’ that runs on electricity. Likely to be priced at around Rs. 20 lakh, ‘Outlander’ is likely to be available by mid-2008, while it would take more than three years to launch ‘i-MiEV’.

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