If one were to take the Auto Expo as a benchmark it is now nearly 30 years since the first edition rolled out at this very same venue in 1996. As Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 kicked off at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on January 17, there was a distinct sense of India having arrived on the big stage.
The fact that the country is among the leading carmakers after China and the US with over four million units annually is by itself an indication of how the journey has transformed itself over the years. Sure, China is way ahead with over 30 million cars produced each year and emerging as a formidable force in electric but India has also come a long way since the time the investment gates were open to multinational carmakers in the early 1990s.
If one were to take the Auto Expo as a benchmark it is now nearly 30 years since the first edition rolled out at this very same venue in 1996. While the venue has gone through its own share of facelifts, so has India’s automotive ecosystem.
Beyond cars, annual production of two-wheelers is close to 20 million units while the auto component industry has, similarly, grown by leaps and bounds where ambitious companies have set up operations overseas and continue to evolve in their areas of expertise.
Government support
Perhaps, the most notable feature of Bharat Mobility is the emphasis by the country’s policymakers to assure their support to the industry and its stakeholders. The Prime Minister was personally present for the inaugural on January 17 which by itself was a huge morale booster to participants at the event especially when he went around some pavilions and spoke to leadership teams.
Two, the stress on clean emissions was equally evident with an array of electric offerings on display which was a clear signal to the rest of the world that India was serious about its clean air drive. What seemed a tall order and seemingly impossible to achieve some years ago has become a reality with the electric transition in two and three-wheelers happening at a rapid pace with cars also putting their best foot forward.
Three, Bharat Mobility is now going to be annual affair compared to the biennial frequencies of yesteryear. Clearly, the Centre is leaving no stone unturned to convey the message that India means business and will pull out all the stops to do its but for manufacturers.
Social media
It is in this context that the power of social media comes into the picture. Updates on the Expo were being done at rapid speed and an entire young generation of influencers was spreading the good word on videos and other platforms. The youngest country in the world, where two-thirds of its population is under 35 years old, was truly stepping on the gas with its super smart GenNext pool transmitting all the news at breakneck speed.
The growth of the industry is also reflected in the fact that the Expo is now completely decentralised with the vehicles now part of Bharat.
Mandapam at Pragati Maidan and the component makers at Yashobhoomi in Dwarka. The third venue is at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida.
During its earlier years, the Auto Expo had the OEMs and suppliers converge at Pragati Maidan and the result was an overwhelming sense of chaos and near hysteria. It was impossible to maintain hygiene levels as the vast crowds poured in and those in charge of housekeeping had to constantly cope with this nightmarish mess.
Pragati Maidan was literally coming apart and this is when the organisers decided to shift the venue to Greater Noida where the vehicle manufacturers had more space and a much cleaner environment. The component makers continued at Pragati Maidan and this was perhaps the beginning of splitting the shows for sharper focus and to ensure that the right people were present for either platform.
Huge relief
However, the problem with Greater Noida was the distance and it is now a big relief that Pragati Maidan is back in favour with the all-new nomenclature of Bharat Mobility adding to the novelty factor. The Dwarka venue. likewise, is more accessible thanks to the Metro and the road ahead for Bharat Mobility looks promising.
Another significant takeaway this year was the presence of some brands which did not participate as often in previous editions. In the two-wheeler space in particular, the likes of Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha had turned out and it was clearly an impressive display of motorcycles and scooters while sending across the message of electrification.
What is especially important at the juncture is the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s startups which has been a significant part of the mobility landscape especially in two-wheelers. Ola Electric, Ather and a host of others have emerged serious contenders in this arena and the action is only going to intensify in the coming years. No wonder that Bharat Mobility will now become an annual event.
Challenges ahead
Of course, there will be a lot of challenges ahead. Participants in the past have complained about high overheads and it remains to be seen if they will throw their hats into the ring for future editions too. The organisers also need to ensure that the main venue, Pragati Maidan, stays in top shape and does not crumble with the weight of the crowds that will throng the show in the coming days.
At a time when auto shows in Europe are slowly being sized down thanks to more pragmatic alternatives like CES at Las Vegas, it is good to see the greater sense of vibrancy within India. Equally while the world is going through its share of volatility and challenges thanks to wars and political upheavals, India seems a lot saner in contrast.
Of course, there are massive issues to contend with in terms of a weaker rupee, inflation and joblessness but this also goes hand in hand with a greater sense of resilience. Over the years, there is also a growing sense of self-confidence which has also happened due to constant positive messaging happening from policymakers on a more vibrant India of the future. Bharat Mobility is perhaps a reflection of this change too.
