<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50531925.cms" /> 
Auto Expo, the bi-annual auto event in India, is starting from February 5, and thanks to its rising popularity, it’s all set to launch a record number of products. 
 
The vehicles to be launched in this year’s Auto Expo include 85 passenger cars, utility vehicles, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles. In comparison to the last show, the number has grown over one-fifth, while it’s doubled if we see the data of 2012. 
 The organisers, <keyword id="82374" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Society-of-Indian-Automobile-Manufacturers">Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers</keyword> (<keyword id="108827" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SIAM">SIAM</keyword>), is expecting a daily crowd of 1,00,000 people on an average, making it the biggest show among all auto shows that happen around the globe. 
 Out of all these impending launches, the one that’s been the most awaited is that of <keyword id="2776768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vitara-Brezza">Vitara Brezza</keyword>, from Maruti Suzuki. The country's largest car maker would be making the global premiere of the compact sport-utility vehicle, in the presence of <keyword id="3058572" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="T-Suzuki">T Suzuki</keyword>, the president of Maruti's Japanese parent Suzuki Motor. 
 Other top executives expected to grace the auto show include Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Asia Pacific COO <keyword id="1131020" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Michael-Manley">Michael Manley</keyword>, Jaguar Land Rover CEO <keyword id="224588" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ralf-Speth">Ralf Speth</keyword> and Isuzu Chairman <keyword id="2790078" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hiroyasu-Miura">Hiroyasu Miura</keyword>. 
 
If the industry sources are to be believed, Maruti will also showcasing Ignis, which is a compact car with the design language of an SUV. Ignis is reported to take on Renault's Kwid, which has been garnering praises ever since its launch. 
 
Renault, on the other hand, would be launching two more versions of Kwid, one being a clutchless AMT version and the other with a 1-litre engine. The French car maker wants to take the position of Alto, which is Maruti Suzuki’s best-selling small car. Reportedly, Renault would also launch an upgraded version of its popular SUV Duster. 
 
Chrysler, the American automobile manufacturer would be stepping in the country for the first time, with Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. Tata's Nexon, Honda's BR-V, Datsun's redi-Go, Mercedes GLC unnamed global SUV and Tivoli from Mahindra &amp; Mahindra's South Korean subsidiary Ssangyong would also see the light of the day at the show. Hyundai’s Tucson, Toyota’s new Innova and M&amp;M's new Quanto are also in line to be unveiled. 
 
Cars to be launched under the small car and sedan segments include General Motors’ upgraded version of the Beat small car and Cruze, a new premium sedan, Fiat’s Tipo, Volkswagen’s entry-level sedan based on its already existing Polo, and Tata Motors’ sedan Sway. 
In the luxury segment, Tata JLR would be bringing out the new sports saloon Jaguar XE and SUV F-Pace. Audi will be taking the covers off the new R8, Audi Prologue concept and the Audi A8 L. 
 
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutoExpo2016/photos/pb.451883368330466.-2207520000.1452507572./451910991661037/?type=3&amp;theater">Image source</a>

Auto Expo 2016 would launch a record number of products

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50352958.cms" /> <keyword id="43777" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Renault">Renault</keyword>, the French car maker, is soaring high with the strong response that its latest release <keyword id="2246468" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kwid">Kwid</keyword> is getting. With pumping confidence, the car maker is all set to take the battle further by competing with market leader <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword>. 
 
To gain a stronger position, Renault would soon be launching the 1-litre and automated manual transmission (AMT) versions of Kwid. The launch is expected to happen at auto show in February. 
 
Kwid, which was launched just before the beginning of the Indian festival season, carries a 799cc engine and is priced at an aggressive price of Rs 2.57 to Rs 3.53 lakh. Kwid has registered more than 80,000 bookings so far, and in 2016, the company expects to double its total sales to more than 100,000 vehicles, more so because of the launch of the new versions. 
 Kwid’s to-be launched 1-litre and the clutch-less AMT versions will be in competition with Maruti's <keyword id="402238" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alto-K10">Alto K10</keyword> and K10 AMT, which are priced at Rs 3.2-3.72 lakh and about Rs 4 lakh, respectively. 
 
As of now, Alto is the best-selling passenger car in India, and has recorded sales of 175,984 units between April and November 2015. Of these, 60,000-80,000 units were of the 998cc (or 1-litre) K10 variants. 
 
<a href="http://www.zigcdn.com/media/content/2015/Sep/kwid-alto-side_720x540.jpg">Image source</a>

It’s Kwid vs. Alto in the Indian small car segment

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51581825.cms" />Carmakers are shifting their focus to women as the fairer sex is driving the demand of automobiles. 
 
The manufacturers are making cars that are women-friendly as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=women+drivers&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">women car buyers</a> doubled from 6 per cent to 12 per cent in last five years. The trend is more visible in the urban market where financially <keyword id="496088" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Independent-women">independent women</keyword> are buying cars. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=auto+sector&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Automobile manufacturers</a> are making cars with clutch-less transmission, rear parking cameras, electronically foldable mirrors and navigation options, for their women customers. 
 
Reportedly, 15 per cent of the demand for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=renault&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Renault's</a> Kwid is from women. 
 
As per <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=maruti&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Maruti</a>, 41 per cent of its female customers are aged less than 35 years. 
 At <keyword id="596" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai">Hyundai</keyword> India, 15-17 per cent of sales is to women though an estimated 25-30 per cent of the vehicles sold by it is used by women, Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president for sales and marketing, told ET. 
 
Not only compact and small cars; demand has also gone up with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=mercedes+benz&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Mercedes-Benz India</a>, which is selling 12 per cent of its vehicles to women. 
 
Mohit Arora, vice-president, JD Powers Asia Pacific, told ET, “I think a lot needs to be done for vehicle safety, traffic conditions. Some of these things need to be changed before you see a massive adoption in terms of women driving cars personally in India.” 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

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Auto Expo 2016 would launch a record number of products

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It’s Kwid vs. Alto in the Indian small car segment

BI India Bureau

Automakers are making women-friendly cars as empowered, independent women are driving sales

BI India Bureau