The Hindu : New Delhi News : Auto Expo generates 20,000 crore business

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New Delhi

Auto Expo generates 20,000 crore business

Staff Reporter

This year’s show ends attracting over 10 lakh visitors

- Photo: S. Subramanium

Jostling crowd: A large number of visitors throng Auto Expo on the last day of the event in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: After hypnotising motor car aficionados with a bevy of sleek vehicles for the past one week, the ninth Auto Expo ended at Pragati Maidan here on Thursday, generating a grand total of Rs.20,000 crore in business deals and attracting over 18 lakh visitors.

The resounding success of the event this year can be gauged from the fact that the last edition in 2006 had attracted around 10 lakh visitors and yielded business worth Rs.540 crore.

The ultimate day of the event was marked by thousands of motor lovers clamouring to get a final look at the one-lakh wonder car “Nano”.

A raging success, this year’s show pouched several firsts in its kitty. “This Auto Expo was the biggest ever in terms of size, number of participants and visitors and business transactions. An overwhelming number of business enquiries were generated over the course of the week and 100 MoUs were also signed. Of the 1,200 exhibitors surveyed, over 50 per cent acknowledged the event had been beneficial in generating business for them, ” said Confederation of Indian Industry Deputy Director-General Gurpal Singh.

The success of the show was not just confined to the pure vehicular segment with keen interest also being generated in the components sector. Automotive Components Manufacturers’ Association executive director Vishnu Mathur said: “Thirty international delegations from Germany, France, Japan, Spain and Canada expressed their interest to know more about the Indian auto component sector. Trade investigations at the auto show indicate a positive signal for the domestic component sector.”

The biggest gain from the Auto Expo was the platform it provided for India to showcase its technological and automotive prowess.

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers director-general Dilip Chenoy said: “This auto show has displayed the potential of India’s automobile industry that is coming out with low-cost yet environment-friendly vehicles.”

According to Mr. Chenoy, over 94 per cent of the exhibitors said they would recommend to their companies to participate in the next Auto Expo as well even though the dates and exact venue of the forthcoming event was not yet finalised.

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