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Auto Expo 2023: More automakers skipping it than attending – Mahindra, Bajaj, Royal Enfield out!

The Auto Expo held every consecutive year in Delhi is considered the best display event for carmakers and auto ancillaries in India. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed to 2022 for a year, which is now scheduled to take place in January 2023. While there were high hopes for the 2023 Auto Expo, considering that it is taking place after three years, we have got some bad news which might disappoint those who were waiting to book their tickets for this event.

Auto Expo 2023: More automakers skipping it than attending – Mahindra, Bajaj, Royal Enfield out!

As per the latest development, a majority of two-wheeler and four-wheeler manufacturers doing business in India are likely to skip the event. The only confirmed names to date are Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Toyota, Kia, Lexus, MG and BYD. However, the list of carmakers likely to give the 2023 Auto Expo a miss is quite long, which includes Mahindra, Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Jeep, Citroen, Volvo, Nissan and Renault. Even several two-wheeler manufacturers like Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, TVS, KTM and Royal Enfield are expected to be absent from the event.

This long list of absentees from the event is surely a disappointment for many, who had built high hopes to see the best from these brands to be on show at the Auto Expo. While the actual reasons for the absence of these brands are still unclear, it is reported that the high investment and stall setup costs are the possible reasons behind companies not participating this time.

2023 Auto Expo

The Auto Expo is a biennial event, which is organized at India Expo Mart in Noida every time and is scheduled to take place on 13-18 January 2022. While this event is organized in February every time, the organizers have decided to prepone the event to January this time.

Since its initial days, when the event used to be held at Pragati Maidan in Delhi, the Auto Expo has remained the biggest event to look forward to for carmakers and common audiences. However, over years, the rising costs of stall setup and logistics have been a big concern for carmakers. Even the last Auto Expo, which was organized in 2020, saw lesser participation when compared to the 2018 Auto Expo. To ensure that the maximum possible participation happens, SIAM and CII are in talks with all the prominent vehicle manufacturers to encourage them in participating in the event.

The 2022 Auto Expo is likely to be a grand stage for the debut of many speculated vehicles in India, including facelifted versions of Hyundai Creta, Kona EV, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier and Safari and all-new Maruti Suzuki Jimny five-door and Baleno Cross, MG City EV, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota Innova Hycross and more.