The ninth Auto Expo, the biggest automotive trade show, is beginning on January 10, 2008, in New Delhi. The theme of the Auto expo is ‘Mobility for All’. The exhibition, ninth in the series, will be the longest-ever as compared to previous six-day event held in 2006.

The Auto Expo, which is a bi-annual event, has been the impressive showcase of the Indian automobile and auto-component industry for the last 18 years.

More than 2000 companies, 41 vehicle manufacturers, 1,900 auto components, auto accessories and other manufacturers are participating in this latest edition of the Auto Expo, spread over 1.20 lakh square meters.

The Auto Expo is being organized jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India.

The ninth Auto Expo will have sector focused pavilions such as accessories and car decor, alternate fuel/gas, diesel city, design, garage equipment, robotics, automation and infotronics.

Many new vehicles, including the much-hyped People’s car from Tata Motors, sports utility vehicle Touareg of Volkswagen and compact car Jazz from Honda, are likely to be unveiled at the 9th Auto Expo 2008.

Maruti Suzuki will also show some of the forthcoming model's design themes at Auto Expo 2008 in the form of the Concept A-Star and Splash.

Dilip Chhabria, India's most famous car design guru, said, “There is something very special for the Auto Expo and we have created two concepts, which are really wild.”

On an average, an Indian customer is ready to spend about Rs 4-6 million ($100,000-150,000) for a custom-designed car, while an overseas client shells out nothing less than Rs. 10 to 20 million ($254,000-500,000), he added.

Rajiv Kaul, Chairman, CII national trade fair committee said, “The highlights of the 2008 event would be the global unveiling of 18 brands. It will include the Tatas’ much-touted Rs 1-lakh car. In the event, General Motors will introduce its Hummer and Cadillac models for India, which Honda presents its Civic Hybrid car.”

By 2030, India is poised to be the third-largest automotive market in the world after the US and China. India’s automotive industry is worth $32 billion and is expected to grow to $145 billion by 2016, Kaul added.