Top Chinese OEMs will soon come to India

TheAuto Expo last month was perhaps the most low key that it ever has been in the past couple of decades that I have been going to India’s biggest automotive exposition that once had the claim of being Asia’s biggest automotive show. Missing were most of the premium car manufacturers and brands as well as all of the big two-wheeler manufacturers, bar say one. On the other hand it also perhaps marked a watershed in the Indian automotive marketplace with this being the Zero Year expo, as the eras will be divided into BC and AC – before and after the advent of the Chinese manufacturers. MG has been present in India for the last few years and Chinese two-wheeler manufacturers have been unsuccessfully trying to make inroads into the market, but it was all very low key. This Expo marks the advent of the Chinese with organization, intent, investments and partnerships as well as India specific strategies. If the Auto Expo was anything to go by, we will have most of the top 10 manufacturers of cars and bikes from China in the country very soon. Of the very top Dongfeng is perhaps conspicuous by its absence while Changan has already opened an office in the country while BYD, SAIC and Great Wall are already present in the country, in some form or the other.

In this issue we bring you all the highlights from the expo in a 50page special apart from all the usual reports, news and updates. We also have the first drive of the third luxury van in the country, the Toyota Vellfire as well as the first rides of the KTMs and the latest version of the country’s bestselling scooter, the Honda Activa. In a novel feature this month, you can scan the QR code given along with the Vellfire to see the video review of the luxury van. We also try and find out the best sub-4m sedan by pitting the newly launched Hyundai Aura against the market leader the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the 2nd best selling Honda Amaze. That and a lot more in this issue of the magazine and until next month, drive safe and make sure you wear a helmet whenever riding.