India Auto Expo is back in 2023 after an absence of three years. Environmentally friendly vehicles are seen dominating the largest automotive exhibition in India.
Asian brands dominated the event, including Tata, BYD, Maruti Suzuki, Lexus and Toyota. Major European manufacturers such as Mercedes, Skoda, Audi and BMW did not participate in the event.
Many startups and large corporations are showing much greater participation in showcasing sustainable and futuristic products. One of them is electric vehicles.
According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a government agency that oversees brand equity, India’s electric vehicle market is growing rapidly, with more than 300,000 of them sold in 2021, up 168 percent from the previous year.
According to the exhibition organizers, this year’s India Auto Expo features many eco-friendly vehicles, reflecting the themes of sustainable living and the transition to clean energy.
India is currently the chair of the G20, a group of 20 leading economies and places climate as its top priority. Climate change has become a top issue for the country after it was hit by a heat wave and pollution is at alarming levels.
Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, vice president, director, BYD India, said the exhibition reflects the spirit of the COP, the United Nations conference on working conventions on climate change.
“The government is encouraging electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions, according to the global COP agreement. As industry experts, and many studies show, 30 percent penetration will be achieved in the electric vehicle market by 2030. This is an optimistic note, if all regulations are enforced, charging infrastructure will be built, and development is underway,” he commented.
Kia offers the Kia Concept EV9, an all-electric SUV. Expected to be marketed globally this year, this car is equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery. With vertical LED taillights and an upright design, the car features hood-mounted solar panels and an interior made of eco-friendly materials.
Kia claims that the EV6 can cover a distance of 700 kilometers on a single battery charge, and can go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.2 seconds.
The Chinese automaker BYD offers the YD Atto 3 with a cutting-edge design and a futuristic look. The interior is sporty, with components designed to feel like you’re in a gym.
The company claims that the car has a range of up to 420 kilometers and goes from 0 to 100 Kmph in 7.3 seconds.
One of the newcomers to the auto industry present at the fair was Vayve Mobility, a startup that claims to have built India’s first solar and electric car.
Eva, the compact car that Vayve makes can accommodate up to two adults and one child. According to Vilas Deshpande, co-founder and COO of Vayve, this car is a perfect fit for India.
“This car is perfectly designed for city trips, for Indian conditions, but what I like the most, is this is India’s first solar and electric car. The battery can be solar charged,” explained Deshpande.
Toyota exhibited the Toyota Corolla Cross, which uses compressed hydrogen fuel, and the Toyota Mirai which uses electric batteries and hydrogen fuel.