The 2020 Auto Expo at Greater Noida has been a strange show. Chinese carmakers came with none of their executives but there were some homegrown surprises
Tata Motors has always put on a show at the Auto Expo thanks to their extensive range of commercial vehicles that they have always had the largest floor area at the Expo for years. The Auto Expo has been where their Chairman Emeritus, Ratan Tata has dropped some of the most significant cars in the Indian automotive history. The Tata Indica in 1998 and of course, the Tata Nano in 2004.
However, this year, nobody really expected Tata Motors to do all that much. Their big launch for the year, the Altroz had already been launched last month. But then again, never doubt the ability. Surprisingly, Tata revived a brand name that had been moribund for over a decade, the Sierra. Yes, India’s “original” Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) had been reimagined for the electric vehicle future and well, Tata Motors ace designer Pratap Bose thought it should become a mobile lounge of sorts.
Well, even Tata Motors executives admit that the Sierra won’t end up with polished wood floors and a lounge set-up, but well, the sliding door could stay. Yet, for some of us it was another car at the Tata Motors stand that caught the eye, the ‘HBX’ compact SUV. While that will wear another badge when it comes into production, this sub-compact SUV is almost certain to make it onto Indian roads in a slightly modified form by late 2020. And it is this sub-compact SUV segment, that is below four metres in length and the compact-SUV segment (between 4.2-4.4 metres in length) that saw the most action at the expo.
In addition to the Tata HBX concept and Kia’s Sonet concept, both sub-compacts gearing up to take on the market leaders, the Hyundai Venus and Maruti-Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Talking of the Brezza, it also got a refresh at the expo, now featuring Suzuki’s K15 engine with 103 horsepower, a mild hybrid system and a proper automatic gearbox. And Kia’s Sonet, while also a concept for now, is almost in final form according to Kia’s Global Design chief Karim Habib. The Sonet, which is almost certain to retain that name, is expected to hit Indian roads around the festive season. It is a smart-looking car and very likely will become a segment leader. Kia also revealed the price of the Carnival MPV, which has been priced at a very impressive range between Rs 25-34 lakh, the top Carnival model has garnered nearly 70 per cent of the 3,500 orders. Quite impressive!
The Volkswagen Group, now headlined by Skoda in India had a media night on the Monday before the start of the Expo but between Skoda and Volkswagen some pretty neat cars on display. Volkswagen showcased their 2021-bound Taigun Compact SUV alongside the longer T-Roc and the seven-seat variant of the Tiguan. Skoda showcased their Vision-IN concept which will form the basis of their upcoming Compact SUV, the Taigun and Vision-In based on the MQB-A0 platform form the basis of the Group’s ‘India 2.0’ strategy but one can question whether 2021 is going to be too late for any launch.
The Chinese were also at the Expo in force, between MG Motor, the brand used by Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation (SAIC) showcasing several exciting new models including their full size SUV the Gloster. But the real surprise was Great Wall Motors, the Chinese manufacturer that has just bought the General Motors factory in Talegaon. They showcased the entirety of their range including several Haval brand SUV’s. Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus outbreak most executives from the Chinese operation could not make it to India for the show. That and the fact that manufacturers like Audi, BMW, Ford and Honda staying away as well as all of India’s top two wheeler companies made the Expo have a slightly cold feel about it. But you should still make a beeline to Greater Noida this weekend.
Photo: Pankaj Kumar
