If there is one thing that auto makers operating in India have shown in the past year, it is resilience. Despite being bogged down by various obstacles and challenges, companies have been relentless in their quest for sustaining profitability. Car makers went ahead and launched a number of new models in 2013, some of which did well while others did not. 2014 has just begun and there is plenty of excitement among auto enthusiasts, critics and companies. The first few days have been bright and sunny as the next generation Honda City made its way to India, generating tremendous excitement. The buzz is set to increase exponentially as Auto Expo 2014 will be held in February. And if reports are to be believed, this event, to be held in Greater Noida, will see the introduction of 70 new cars. A report in Economic Times suggests that big firms like Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are going to launch a number of models at the event.
Sources claim that around 15 vehicles, including compact cars and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), will be officially launched at Auto Expo 2014. Starting with Maruti Suzuki, India's largest passenger car maker will be looking to introduce a couple of models to set its ball rolling in 2014. Reports suggest that Maruti Suzuki Celerio and a new sedan (replacement of SX4) will make their débuts in India. The Suzuki-owned firm had a quiet 2013 and its only launch was the Stingray hatchback, which has not performed as per anticipated levels. Now, with the launch of Celerio and new SX4, Maruti Suzuki would be looking to further increase its market share in the country. Tata Motors, another bigwig, reportedly, is on a mission to revamp its entire market image and regain lost ground. By introducing a minimum of five vehicles, Tata Motors would be hoping to change its revenue levels. The Indian car maker has pinned high hopes on the Falcon Project, which is likely to take it to places. Many experts feel that this change in approach is going to do a lot of good to Tata Motors and its profitability.
Moving on to foreign car makers, the Japanese trio of Honda, Nissan and Toyota is going to have a say in proceedings at Auto Expo 2014. Honda, riding high on the success of City and Amaze, will be looking to further cement its stronghold by introducing a couple of models. A new version of Jazz hatchback, currently discontinued, will be showcased for Indian consumers. Along with this, Mobilio, the much hyped Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) will also be unveiled at the Auto Expo 2014, reports have claimed. Toyota, one of the biggest auto companies in the world, will be looking to bring the next-generation version of its best-seller Corolla. Nissan, on the other hand, is expected to unveil the new Sunny sedan.
South Korean auto maker Hyundai, as per reports, is lining up two introductions at the upcoming event. One of them would be a compact sedan, which will be based on the highly successful Grand i10 hatchback. The other, if rumours are to be believed, is going to be the new Santa Fe SUV. Continuing with SUVs, it is almost certain that Chrysler-owned brand Jeep will be bringing Grand Cherokee and Wrangler models to mark its entry in India. Other cars like Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha, Mercedes-Benz GLA compact SUV and new Audi Q7 could also be launched in India.
Experts feel that this event has the potential to give a massive boost to the slow moving automobile market in India. 2013, in totality, was a poor year for car makers in the country as revenues were low, prices rose and input cost increased. Apart from cars like Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Grand i10 and Honda Amaze, not many models were able to perform well. However, experts feel that Auto Expo 2014 will give the right push to car makers as it attracts a high number of potential buyers. This year's Auto Expo is expected to be bigger and better than previous editions due to the change of venue.
