India expo & more

The city streets are frenetic, chaotic and enchanting — a perfect backdrop to India’s premier motoring exhibition, writes Waldo Swiegers

New Delhi is covered in a blanket of smog from pollution caused by close to 12-million vehicles navigating its complicated road network. We are here for the Auto Expo 2023 and, as guests of Suzuki, our first port of call is to its stand to witness the unveiling of the Jimny five-door and curiously named Fronx.

Of course, while there were many more sights and sounds to take in at India’s biggest car show, it was difficult not to be enchanted spending time in the thick of the city.

You will find all forms of motorised transport on Delhi’s roads — scooters, motorbikes, tuk-tuks, buses, passenger vehicles and trucks. Everyone is fighting for the same gap, the same piece of tarmac. The congestion is mind-boggling. The blaring of hooters becomes like background noise after a while. The odd cow causes extra traffic, as everyone navigates their way around it. Rickshaws litter the road in certain sections of the city, bravely challenging their motorised counterparts in the traffic Olympics.

“How long will it take to get there?” we constantly ask, and Newin, our local tour guide, would set an expectation of “only an hour, traffic permitting”. It’s never just an hour. The traffic has no formal structure, no real rules. Everyone just tries to get where they need to as soon as they can. That often means going up a one-way, hooter howling. Everyone just makes way. The hooter is the most important tool on the road here.

With this as the backdrop to the Auto Expo 2023, it is interesting to see the effort being put into sustainable solutions — be it electric or hybrid. With India’s population of 1.32-billion people, and generally Third World infrastructure, the electrification drive is still a long way off making a dent in mobility solutions. So, while many electric trucks and buses are showcased, most people get around town on carbon fuelbased scooters or tuk-tuks.

Tuk-tuks and scooters from a company named Greaves shows what is possible. Stylish, fully electric, inner-city transport for people and goods. Sun Mobility showed a concept of an electric motorbike that features interchangeable batteries. It can do 130km on a charge and has a top speed of 110km/h — a speed you’ll never reach in New Delhi’s congested streets.

Suzuki also showcased its foray into the electric vehicle market by unveiling the Suzuki EVX. There are no plans to bring it to South Africa, but commitment from manufacturers to the electric drive is picking up speed at an exponential rate. Checking a map of New Delhi, there are already hundreds of EV charging stations in the city.

While in India we tried every type of transport. We used a tuk-tuk to get to the old city market. We took a rickshaw. We rode a train to Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, and a tonga, a cart pulled by a horse, to get to its gates. It’s a misty and smoggy morning, just past sunrise, and the magnificence of the Taj Mahal is amplified by the mystic atmosphere.

There’s not a moment to waste: from the frenetic bustle of the city markets to the majestic silence at the foot of the Taj Mahal. It will be interesting to see how the electrified transport market does in the coming years, but for now the smog will continue to hang over the city’s horizon, accompanied by the ever-present sound of hooters blaring.

Auto Expo 2023 offered a glimpse into a future that isn’t far off, but not yet attainable on a grand scale.

OTHER HITS AT THE EXPO

There were as many as 59 launches at the event, which returned after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. The spread ranged from two-wheelers to futuristic concepts, prospects that are very nearly in production form, as well as cars making their Indian debuts after global reveals.

Tata put on a big show. Though the brand is virtually dormant in South Africa, in its domestic market it is a juggernaut.

The carmaker revealed the electrified Sierra SUV, which looks like a more curvaceous Land Rover Defender. Its Avinya concept previewed future electric technologies, with a power train offering a 500km range. There was also the spunky Curvv crossover and an electric version of the Harrier, which is based on the Land Rover D8 platform, mirroring the Discovery Sport in size.

Chinese-owned MG is another brand that has not cut it locally but is enjoying fair traction on the Indian market. It showcased its new generation Hector, which rivals the likes of the Mahindra XUV700.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan, brand ambassador for Hyundai, took the wraps off the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle. The model has made serious waves for the South Korean automaker, with plaudits such as a 2022 World Car of the Year title already under its belt.

Sister brand Kia also took the limelight with its EV9. Although not an all-new concept, it is one that still delighted attendees, showcasing the brand’s ambitions for a full-sized, electric luxury flagship SUV. It employs solar panels to extend range and boasts a radical 21-inch interior screen display.

Since a good number of new models on sale locally are sourced from Indian plants, presentations from the country’s Auto Expo are relevant to South Africa.

In fact, the Indian market as a whole is crucial in the global context. Last year it overtook Japan to become the world’s thirdlargest car market, with more than 4.25million units sold. China is still in first place, recording 26.27-million units in 2022, followed by the US at 16.4-million vehicles.