How Bharat Mobility Global Expo aims to bring excitement into Auto Shows

With India’s automotive industry scaling leaps and bounds, the recently concluded Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 in Delhi set a new trend in the sector — the demand for an annual exhibition of vehicles, components and the entire value chain. An idea proposed by the government, Bharat Mobility looks to present India as a mobility hub in the global landscape by providing one platform to the entire ecosystem.

Drawing global attention

As the world’s largest two-wheeler market and third-largest passenger vehicle market, India is flexing its muscles to attract more global players. The government is pitching the country’s lower cost structure as a significant opportunity for automakers that are looking beyond China for a reliable and best-cost base.

India’s extensive network of auto component suppliers, readily available skilled workers and R&D centres offer a promising manufacturing base for global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), most recently garnering the attention of auto giants such as Tesla, VinFast, Ford and Foxconn. Existing global players like the Volkswagen Group, Hyundai, Nissan and Renault are also fuelling their production plans to not just make in India for India, but for exports as well.

With the government promoting electric and alternative fuel-powered vehicles through policies such as Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for automobiles and components, batteries, and hydrogen, overseas OEMs are doubling down on their India operations, betting on exporting EVs from our shores as part of their growth plans. For instance, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is looking at fresh investments as they are considering bringing an entry-level EV to India.

“To justify the investment, volume and scale are critical. So we are looking at opportunities to also export them from India,” the company's Managing Director and CEO Piyush Arora shared at Bharat Mobility Global Expo.

Playing a proactive role in setting the tone for the event, the government has made it clear how crucial the mobility sector is for the growth of India’s economy. “Today’s Bharat is progressing to become a developed nation by 2047. The mobility sector is set to play a significant role in achieving this goal,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address at the expo. Moreover, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, while underlining the importance of a mega exhibition, said Bharat Mobility can present India’s strengths to the global market and position the country as an international player across industries. He also urged the Indian auto industry to target at least a 50% share of the vehicles produced here for exports.

0 to 100 — A smashing debut

The first edition of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo set a new paradigm for auto exhibitions in India, where vehicle and component shows were held once every two years. Until last year, vehicle and component expos were held as two separate events, organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), respectively, once every two years. However, this year onwards, the two will be held under the Bharat Mobility umbrella brand, and associations can own their expos and related events as a sub-brand.

The event is set to be an annual affair, converging the biennial vehicle and component exhibitions. The three-day expo in Delhi was the first of its kind, drawing participation from the entire value chain of the automobile industry.

Over the years, marque vehicle shows had been losing their charm globally, with several big players skipping these events. The Indian vehicle show also witnessed a similar trend at its expo last year. However, with the government pushing the whole of the mobility sector to take part in Bharat Mobility, the debut saw increased participation from OEMs, including Mercedes Benz, Honda, Audi, BMW, Mahindra & Mahindra and Hero MotoCorp, which skipped the last vehicle show. Apart from OEMs and component makers, manufacturers of tyres, construction equipment, batteries and energy storage and technology firms also made their mark at the expo. It was organised by industry associations such as SIAM, ACMA, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles and NASSCOM, under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce and others.

The highlights: New tech and alternatives

While new launches are usually the primary highlights of auto expos, Bharat Mobility didn’t have any, barring a few. However, the event managed to keep up to the hype, with major OEMs, suppliers and other mobility-related companies coming together to showcase their future technologies. Besides featuring EVs and vehicles powered by hydrogen, fuel cells and other alternatives, the expo also had innovations and future technologies on display. Among them were advanced batteries and storage solutions, smart tyres and autonomous driving.

“Bharat Mobility brought in good visibility and was extremely successful, with the entire value chain being present for the first time. Around 10 to 11 industry associations participated and helped connect stakeholders well,” SIAM President Vinod Aggarwal told Autocar Professional, adding that the focus from all related ministries and the prime minister’s presence boosted confidence in India’s automotive industry.

Over 800 exhibitors and around 1.3 lakh registered visitors participated in the three-day mega event held at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. From the OEM side, 27 companies, ranging from the biggest players to new-age OEMs, set up their stalls to showcase their excellence.

Apart from product exhibitions, Bharat Mobility also included a CEO conclave, B2B meetings, reverse buyer seller meets, a road safety pavilion, the NASSCOM Techade pavilion and the SIAM Decarbonisation and Circular Economy pavilion. SIAM also organised a slew of conferences on various topics, such as electric mobility, decarbonisation and battery manufacturing, where several top government officials and industry people shared their views.

A major highlight of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 was the fifth edition of ACMA Automechanika, held in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt. ACMA Automechanika is a key trade fair that focuses on aftermarket solutions for two-wheelers, as well as passenger, commercial and agricultural vehicles. This year, the event was held as part of Bharat Mobility. Over 500 exhibitors from 12 global markets participated in Automechanika to exhibit more than 10,000 aftermarket products.

Second edition in the works

After the resounding success of its first edition, the government and industry associations are now considering the five days of January 17 to 22, 2025 for the next edition of the expo. This would be organised across multiple venues in Delhi-NCR, including Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi Convention Centre and India Expo Mart.

Last week, the Department of Commerce held a virtual meeting with major industry associations, including SIAM, ACMA, the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association and Confederation of Indian Industries, to discuss the dates for the 2025 event, industry sources told Autocar Professional.

“The first edition of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo was a great success. Considering that all elements of the mobility ecosystem displayed their capabilities in unison, it makes sense going forward for all stakeholders to collaborate in a similar seamless fashion under the aegis of Bharat Mobility,” ACMA President Shradha Suri Marwah told Autocar Professional.

For the 2025 edition, the vehicle show is likely to be held from January 17 to 22 at Bharat Mandapam, while the component show could be held between January 18 and 21 at the new Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre) in Dwarka, sources told Autocar Professional. The exhibition of construction equipment makers may be held from January 18 to 21 at India Expo Mart. The dates and venues for the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 are expected to be finalised soon.