Auto Expo 2020: Is It Worth a Visit as Many Brands Are Opting Out?

Given the slowdown in automobile sales this year, prominent brands are choosing to stay away from Auto Expo 2020.

This year many automotive brands are pulling out of the Auto Expo 2020.

(Photo: The Quint)

Auto Expo 2020 - The Motor Show is scheduled to be held between 7 and 12 February 2020, at Expo Mart, Greater Noida. This biennial event organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is usually a crowd puller.

Every two years the general public gets to see upcoming cars and bikes and some of latest launches at the Auto Expo. However, this year, the crowds are likely to be a bit disappointed as many of the regular exhibitors at the Auto Expo have chosen to stay away from the event.

So, it is still worth visiting Auto Expo 2020? Let’s just tell you who’s there and who’s not, which should help you decide. Registrations and ticket sales haven’t started yet.

Brands Worth Looking Out For

Auto enthusiasts who have frequented the Auto Expo earlier may find the upcoming Expo a bit of a drab affair as many regulars are opting out. However, the brands that are taking part have some interesting exhibits lined up.

Mahindra

The 2020 Mahindra Scorpio has been spotted testing near Chennai.Photo Courtesy: Motor Vikatan

Mahindra will be taking part in the Auto Expo 2020. It has quite a few new vehicles in the pipeline that it will likely be showcasing. Expect to see the 2020 Mahindra Thar and all-new Scorpio on display. In addition, there will be a facelift of the XUV500 and a longer version of the XUV300 on display. It will also have new additions to its electric car line up.

Tata Motors

The Tata H2X is a two-door compact SUV concept.Photo: Tata Motors

Tata Motors is expected to have a pretty interesting line up of vehicles to showcase at the Auto Expo 2020. The upcoming Tata Altroz will take centre stage. It will also showcase the Tata Nexon EV and the Tata Buzzard (the seven-seat variant of the Tata Harrier). Also expected is the H2X shown at Geneva earlier this year.

Maruti Suzuki

The Maruti Vitara Brezza will likely ditch its diesel motor and show up with a facelift and a petrol motor at the Auto Expo.Photo: The Quint

The Indian market leader in terms of market share will have its entire portfolio on display. Additions to the line up are expected in terms of BS-VI offerings of all their cars. The facelift Vitara Brezza in a petrol variant and possibly the Grand Vitara will probably be on display.

Kia Motors

The Kia Carnival is likely to be the next offering from Kia in India.Photo: Kia Motors

Kia has had a good debut in the Indian market this year with the Kia Seltos chalking up good numbers. It is now getting its next product ready for the Indian market, which is likely to be a luxury MPV the Kia Carnival. It will compete with the Toyota Innova Crysta.

MG Motor India

The MG ZS EV will be the company’s first electric SUV for India.Photo: MG Motor India

MG Motor India got off to a good start with its first SUV, the Hector, steadily increasing in numbers. The company is unveiling its second SUV - the all-electric MG ZS EV on 5 December. This is likely to be the centrepiece at the Auto Expo as well. In addition, it is likely to have the Maxus D90 on display, which is a large 7-seat luxury SUV that will compete with the Mahindra Alturas and Toyota Fortuner among others.

Hyundai India

The upcoming Hyundai Creta is expected to look exactly like the ix25 showcased in China.Photo: Hyundai

Hyundai India has had a good run with its SUV offerings. The Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Creta have been best-sellers for the brand. Ever since the Kia Seltos came out the Creta has seen some sales drop, but Hyundai is all set to make a comeback with the facelifted Hyundai Creta, based on the ix25 shown in China.

Other carmakers taking part include Mercedes Benz, Skoda, Volkswagen and Renault. A new brand called Great Wall Motors is also expected to be at the Expo. Among two-wheeler makers, only Suzuki motorcycles and Piaggio have confirmed their participation so far.

Brands Who Will Be Missed

Crowd favourites will be missing at Auto Expo 2020 among two-wheelers.(Photo Courtesy: Royal Enfield)

The Auto Expo 2020 is going to be a much smaller affair. Auto Expo favourites like Honda and BMW are not going to be taking part this year. Even Audi, Toyota and Lexus are not taking part. Ford stopped taking part after 2016.

Jeep, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover are also giving the Expo a miss. New entrant to the market Citroen, which will be launching the C5 Aircross next year, is not taking part in the show. Isuzu too isn’t showing its new pick-ups or SUVs at the show.

Among two-wheelers all the crowd favourites like Royal Enfield, Harley-Davidson and Triumph are not there. Neither are any of the popular brands – no TVS, Bajaj, Hero Motorcorp or Honda. In fact, there’s very little to look forward to among two-wheelers. Expect some of the electric two-wheeler makers to be on display though.