New Delhi: The country's leading automobile show, the Auto Expo, which was scheduled to take place in February next year at Greater Noida, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 situation and apprehensions of a possible third wave, industry body SIAM said on Monday. The last edition of the biennial automobile show took place in February 2020. ANAND Group, Mando Corporation Join Hands to Produce, Market Electric Vehicle Components.

"The magnitude of the risk of spread of infection is extremely high in a business-to-consumer (B2C) show like the Auto Expo which is visited by large crowds and maintaining social distancing would be difficult. It has therefore been decided to postpone the Auto Expo – The Motor Show for now," Society of Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Director General Rajesh Menon said in a statement.

The exact date for the next edition of Auto Expo – The Motor Show would be finalised later this year keeping in view the COVID situation and in alignment with the OICA Calendar of global Auto shows, he added.

Menon noted that safety of exhibitors, visitors and all stakeholders involved and present at the Auto Expo is the top most priority for 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 on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the apprehensions of a possible third wave, he said.

"Also, Auto Expo is like a festival of celebration, for the Indian auto industry and we look forward to receiving maximum people with no fear of spread of infection," he added.

Elaborating further, Menon noted that there is uncertainty around how COVID-19 would develop in the coming months and at the same time organising Auto Expo would need a lead time of preferably a year.  The Auto Expo 2020 saw total footfalls of over six lakh visitors. The country's flagship auto show had witnessed around 70 product launches and unveils, 352 product displays from 108 exhibitors. Keeping in pace with the trend of eco-friendly vehicles, the expo had also witnessed the launch of 35 electric vehicles.