Covid-19 and its persisting fear of future waves has led to the postponement of the next edition of Auto Expo, India's own, and Asia's largest, automobile show.
“Safety of exhibitors, visitors and all stakeholders involved and present at the Expo is the topmost priority,” said Rajesh Menon, secretary-general of the organising body, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
It is in this context that the Indian automobile industry and SIAM recognises the inherent risks in organising the Auto Expo due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the apprehensions of a possible third wave. There is uncertainty around how Covid-19 would develop in the coming months,” he added.
The biennial event last took place in February 2020, even as India was reporting the first cases of infection by the coronavirus. At that event itself, Chinese exhibitors had cancelled attendance at the last minute over popular apprehensions, even though Chinese brands like Great Wall had major presence at the Expo ahead of its expected rollout in India. (However, that seems to be in limbo following the lockdown and the India-China clashes, following which, Great Wall's Maharashtra plant project was put on hold).
“The magnitude of the risk of spread of infection is extremely high in a business-to-consumer show like Auto Expo which is visited by large crowds,” adds Menon. Calling it a 'celebration of Indian automobile industry,' he said ''maintaining social distancing would be difficult." Auto industry officials also made it clear that it is a postponement and not an outright cancellation, though no fresh dates were forthcoming, as of now.