All roads will lead to Greater Noida from Wednesday as the Auto Expo gets ready to roll. The week-long event will miss big-ticket names such as the Volkswagen group, Ford, Nissan, Fiat Chrysler, Jaguar Land Rover and Bajaj Auto.

This void will, however, be made up with the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra & Mahindra, Toyota, Honda (both cars and two-wheelers), Hero, TVS, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and many others.

Yet, the mood could be slightly sombre given that it is barely a week since the Budget’s announcement on higher import duties on components and knocked down kits.

While one could argue that the Centre now has a more pronounced tilt towards protectionism, the counter view is that this has been done to increase local production.

After all, jobs remain elusive in the manufacturing sector and the hike in import duty may lead to investments in the supply chain, which, in turn, will call for more manpower in due course of time.

Within the industry, not everyone is particularly kicked about the news, especially luxury carmakers, who will now see their cars become more expensive.

Beyond electric mobility, which will be the central theme at the Expo (but strangely ignored in the Budget), the presence of a new entrant in Kia Motors will be something to watch out for. The Korean carmaker, better known for being part of the Hyundai group, has been tipped to enter India for some years now. As a premium brand, Kia will be doubly keen to steer clear of being associated with its parent company and carve a niche for itself in this competitive market.

Given that it is barely 10 months since General Motors bid adieu to India, the entry of another big brand in Kia is comforting news for a country which is on its way to becoming the third largest car producer in the world.

Yesterday, once more

The scenario is akin to the 1998 Auto Expo, which, likewise, had an exit overhang in the form of Peugeot Citroen. The French company had called it quits in November 1997 after a three-year roller coaster ride when nothing seemed to go right.

Yet, the 1998 Expo was memorable thanks to the fact that it was just seven years since the economy had thrown open its gates to investments from multinational automakers. Despite the Peugeot exit, the mood was upbeat with the Tata Indica the largest crowd puller and described as the ‘Kohinoor of India’ during its unveiling.

Another new entrant, Hyundai, showcased its Santro which would go on to become a significant brand in the compact car space.

Toyota had the Qualis on display, and it would become a force to reckon with in multipurpose vehicles. Daewoo’s Matiz got the eyeballs, too, but the company was fated to go the Peugeot way in India when its Korean parent collapsed and it was acquired by GM.

The 1998 Expo saw a far more subdued Maruti, which was then in the midst of a slugfest between its promoters, Suzuki Motor Corporation and the Indian government.

At that point in time, a solution seemed unlikely, with both sides not displaying any intent to give up the fight in a hurry. Eventually, Suzuki took charge after an amicable solution and Maruti has since grown from strength to strength.

The overall landscape has also changed considerably since the 1998 Expo with brands such as Indica and Santro bowing out of the arena. The one that is still going strong after 20 years is the Honda City, perhaps the longest and most successful car brand in India.

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