LEADIN

Auto sales may be slowing China, but in India demand is growing.

Car enthusiasts are gathering at New Delhi's biennial Auto Expo to glimpse the latest models and trends.

STORYLINE:

India's biennial motor show is in full-throttle.

The 13th edition of Auto Expo, one of the largest auto shows in Asia, has opened its gates to the public at a venue in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi.

Shiny SUVs, futuristic concepts, and mean racing machines are all on display, as both Indian and international automakers showcase their goods.

Tens of thousands of excited car fans – including ones a little to young for a driving license – are taking pictures and selfies with their favourite models.

The demand for vehicles is increasing year-on-year and India is set to become the world's third largest automobile market this year, surpassing Brazil and Japan, according to a 2014 forecast by IHS automotive, a research and data company.

Hyundai is one of the top car sellers in India, with the second highest market share in passenger vehicles, attracting buyers with their low-priced hatchbacks and sedans.

Rakesh Srivastava, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Hyundai India, says they sell cars in the price range of 4,500 to 45,000 US dollars.

Last year, they launched a compact SUV, the Hyundai Creta, which became one of the hottest sellers in its segment last year.

"Potential is huge," Srivastava says "And with the kind of initiative that the government has taken in terms of bringing in investments, improving the consumer sentiments,what we believe 2016 will be a strong year."

But not everyone is a winner in the Indian automobile market.

German carmaker Volkswagen, which entered the Indian market relatively late, aims to increase its market share that stands at less than five percent.

Prospective buyers from around the country are getting a feel of what's new, as Indians enjoy a wide range of options and the ease of buying them online.

Atul Tewari of online car trading portal Quikr, says demand is good.

"There are models coming from the US (United States) like Mustang and all, which has come on here. So obviously there is a demand otherwise people would not be bringing those cars in India."

India is also the world's second largest producer of motorcycles with total production reaching over 18 million units in 2015 according to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).

Some young Indians are infatuated with super bikes and international bikes were getting a lot of attention at the show.

"It has a superb model, superb horsepower, it is just fabulous. That's why I am here," says Vivek Gupta, who stood mesmerized by the Suzuki Hayabusa.

There's also a fledgling market for alternative fuel-powered cars and hybrids.

That's been helped by India's Supreme Court banning the registration of some new diesel vehicles in the capital and the Delhi government restricting the number of vehicles on the road earlier this year in a push to reduce air pollution.

Though very few are spotted on the streets, Tewari believes hybrids are going to get more popular as the government's drive to fight pollution gets fiercer.

"Once better options are available and people start trusting them more, I think this (hybrids) will happen."

At the luxury end of the market, the Nissan GT-R, which was launched this year, has a hefty price tag of more than 220,000 US dollars.

Luxury car sales are set to increase in India, but they currently make up less than two percent of overall domestic car sales, according to a 2015 report by Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA).

The growth in this market is backed by increasing foreign direct investment, which is set to grow to more than 13 billion US dollars, an increase of one billion US dollars from last year, according to IBEF.

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Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

LEADIN

Auto sales may be slowing China, but in India demand is growing.

Car enthusiasts are gathering at New Delhi's biennial Auto Expo to glimpse the latest models and trends.

STORYLINE:

India's biennial motor show is in full-throttle.

The 13th edition of Auto Expo, one of the largest auto shows in Asia, has opened its gates to the public at a venue in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi.

Shiny SUVs, futuristic concepts, and mean racing machines are all on display, as both Indian and international automakers showcase their goods.

Tens of thousands of excited car fans – including ones a little to young for a driving license – are taking pictures and selfies with their favourite models.

The demand for vehicles is increasing year-on-year and India is set to become the world's third largest automobile market this year, surpassing Brazil and Japan, according to a 2014 forecast by IHS automotive, a research and data company.

Hyundai is one of the top car sellers in India, with the second highest market share in passenger vehicles, attracting buyers with their low-priced hatchbacks and sedans.

Rakesh Srivastava, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Hyundai India, says they sell cars in the price range of 4,500 to 45,000 US dollars.

Last year, they launched a compact SUV, the Hyundai Creta, which became one of the hottest sellers in its segment last year.

"Potential is huge," Srivastava says "And with the kind of initiative that the government has taken in terms of bringing in investments, improving the consumer sentiments,what we believe 2016 will be a strong year."

But not everyone is a winner in the Indian automobile market.

German carmaker Volkswagen, which entered the Indian market relatively late, aims to increase its market share that stands at less than five percent.

Prospective buyers from around the country are getting a feel of what's new, as Indians enjoy a wide range of options and the ease of buying them online.

Atul Tewari of online car trading portal Quikr, says demand is good.

"There are models coming from the US (United States) like Mustang and all, which has come on here. So obviously there is a demand otherwise people would not be bringing those cars in India."

India is also the world's second largest producer of motorcycles with total production reaching over 18 million units in 2015 according to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).

Some young Indians are infatuated with super bikes and international bikes were getting a lot of attention at the show.

"It has a superb model, superb horsepower, it is just fabulous. That's why I am here," says Vivek Gupta, who stood mesmerized by the Suzuki Hayabusa.

There's also a fledgling market for alternative fuel-powered cars and hybrids.

That's been helped by India's Supreme Court banning the registration of some new diesel vehicles in the capital and the Delhi government restricting the number of vehicles on the road earlier this year in a push to reduce air pollution.

Though very few are spotted on the streets, Tewari believes hybrids are going to get more popular as the government's drive to fight pollution gets fiercer.

"Once better options are available and people start trusting them more, I think this (hybrids) will happen."

At the luxury end of the market, the Nissan GT-R, which was launched this year, has a hefty price tag of more than 220,000 US dollars.

Luxury car sales are set to increase in India, but they currently make up less than two percent of overall domestic car sales, according to a 2015 report by Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA).

The growth in this market is backed by increasing foreign direct investment, which is set to grow to more than 13 billion US dollars, an increase of one billion US dollars from last year, according to IBEF.

====

Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 5 February 2016

1. Various of Hyundai's Vision Gran Turismo Concept on display at the 2016 India Auto Expo

2. Various of wide, top shots of the Hyundai exhibit at the auto show busy with visitors

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 4 February 2016

3. Wide of the Mercedes GL-Class SUV stand at the Mercedes exhibit

4. Various of people taking pictures at the Mercedes G 500 SUV

5. People taking pictures of SUVs at the Mercedes stand

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 5 February 2016

6. Visitors clicking pictures with the Hyundai Creta as seen through the glass case displaying an award reading (English) "JK Tyre Sponsors Indian Car of the Year 2016"

7. People posing with and checking out the Hyundai Creta

8. Various of Hyundai HND-14, 'Carlino' Concept car on display

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Srivastava, Senior Vice President and Division Head Marketing and Sales, Hyundai India:

"Potential is huge. And with the kind of initiatives that the government has taken in terms of bringing in investments, improving the consumer sentiments,what we believe 2016 will be a strong year. In the senses that the growth rates will be above eight percent. Our vision, as far as Hyundai vision is concerned, is to build, right? And build the momentum, sustain the growth rate so that we can continue to build on the strong leadership position that we have in India."

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 4 February 2016

10. Various of a boy playing a video game at the Volkswagen exhibit

11. Tilt up of the Volkswagen Beetle on display

12. Various of the Volkswagen Beetle

13. Wide of the Volkswagen exhibit showing Volkswagen Cross Polo (left) and the Volkswagen Beetle

14. Mid of Atul Tewari, Chief Operating Officer, Quikr Cars, an online car trading portal, chatting by the Quikr Cars stand

15. Close of the Quikr Cars logo

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Atul Tewari, Chief Operating Officer, Quikr Cars:

"Industry is maturing. People are looking to have a lot of options. Gone are the days, about 20 years ago, when there were just like three brands available. Right now, depending on what the price that you can pay, and even if you were to add a little bit extra from your budget, there are things which are available. Buying a car on a loan has also become easier out there. So I think the industry is obviously going through a good swing as we can see what's there in the auto expo. The huge amount of models which have been launched. There are models coming from the US (United States) like Mustang and all, which has come on here. So obviously there is a demand otherwise people would not be bringing those cars in India."

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 5 February 2016

17. Various of the Ford Mustang, which has recently been launched in India, on display

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 4 February 2016

18. Tilt up of a model posing with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W04 race car on display at the Mercedes stand

19. Various of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W04 race car

20. Tilt down of a model sitting on a modified Triumph Bonneville

21. Tilt down from model to the modified Triumph Bonneville

22. Close of the Triumph logo

23. Triumph Adventure Tiger Explorer XC (left) and Adventure Tiger 800XRX on display at the Triumph stand

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 5 February 2016

24. Pan from viewers to a model posing with the Suzuki Intruder M-1800R

25. Close of Suzuki Intruder M-1800R

26. Vivek Gupta, a bike enthusiast, looking at the Suzuki Hayabusa

27. Suzuki Hayabusa on display

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Vivek Gupta, student and bike enthusiast:

"It (Suzuki Hayabusa) has a superb model, superb horsepower, it is just fabulous. That's why I am here."

29. Various of the Toyota Hybrid TS040

30. Pan left to right of visitors at the Auto Expo

31. Tilt up of the Toyota Camry Hybrid

32. Various of the Hyundai Fuel Cell Car and its engine

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 4 February, 2016

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Atul Tewari, Chief Operating Officer, Quikr Cars:

"I think I think its just a matter of making people more aware about it. I think the pollution drive, the pollution control drive which the Delhi government did, I think its more about making people aware about it and people would be looking for these kind of options (hybrids). So I think, consumer behaviour, it takes time to change. I think that's only thing which I can comment at this point of time. And once better options are available and people start trusting them more, I think this (hybrids) will happen."

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 5 February, 2016

34. Various of the recently launched Nissan GT-R on display

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Washington, DC - 24 January 2007

1. Pan view DC Car Show

2. Various energy efficient Toyota Prius

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ed Barron, Washington DC resident:

"The American consumer will be forced into it. They are not going to cut their driving down but they will use less gasoline if they come up with alternative fuels."

4. Pull back view of hydrogen car

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Harvey (and wife Margot), Annapolis Maryland resident:

"Like most Americans we are a little bit spoilt and we are looking for luxury and something that has all the bells and whistles and that takes energy and it takes money. But you know we are willing to make some sacrifices to save some energy."

6. Close-up fuel cell car

ABC - No Access NAmerica/Internet

Wilmington, Delaware - 24 January 2007

7. Mid view of Bush on stage

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:

"Dependence on oil provides and economic and national security risk, a problem that this country better start dealing with in a serious fashion, now before it becomes acute."

9. Cutaway audience

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:

"You don't want your president sitting in the Oval Office worried about the activities of a hostile regime that can have all kinds of impacts on our security, starting with economic security. Dependence on oil, as well, means that if a terrorist were able to destroy infrastructure somewhere else in the world it's going to affect what you pay for at the gasoline pump."

Pool

Wilmington, Delaware - 24 January 2007

11. Tilt down view of Bush touring greenhouse

12. Close-up samples

13. Various Bush touring greenhouse

14. UPSOUND: (English) George W. Bush, US President:

"What our citizens got to know is that because of the research you're doing here, with some of their taxpayers' money to help you, that switchgrass which can be grown all across America could end up being the fuel that powers their automobiles. That's important."

AP Television

New York, New York - 24 January 2007

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ira Eckstein, Area International Trading Corp, at the Mercantile Exchange:

"We always hear about it but nothing really ever gets done. You know as far as conservation that is something we can do if they want to look at the gasoline - you know smaller cars or better efficiency - they could definitely do that. But as far as they are going to reinvent the wheel, I don't think so anytime soon."

AP Television

Washington, DC - 24 January 2007

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Unidentified DC Motorist:

"Overall it was good, obviously we have to do something different. So he threw out some good proposals. We'll have to see how they sort themselves out and what the merit of them all are. At least it is something we can all start working on, sure."

17. Cutaway man filling fuel-efficient Prius

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brian Viola, from Ashburn, Virginia:

"I think it is a good plan, but my question is where was it eight years ago? You know six years ago when he came into office ... I mean we had the ability to do that then, but he was totally against it and now he is acting as if it is his first time and he came up with the idea yesterday."

19. Close-up petrol tank

STORYLINE:

American motorists reacted with interest, but scepticism on Wednesday, to US President George Bush's energy plan that targets their gas-guzzling habits.

President Bush, hoping for momentum from his State of the Union address, warned that the nation's reliance on oil poses a national security threat.

At DC's car show in Washington on Wednesday, visitors were treated to visions of fuel efficient cars of many makes.

Many agreed that fuel efficiency was desirable, but felt that American consumers might have to be forced to make changes to their fuel consumption.

President Bush campaigned on Wednesday in Delaware on his energy plan.

In a speech to employees of Dupont, one of the largest researchers of alternative fuels in the US, Bush said: "You don't want your president sitting in the Oval Office worried about the activities of a hostile regime that can have all kinds of impacts on our security, starting with economic security."

The president said, "dependence on oil, as well, means that if a terrorist were able to destroy infrastructure somewhere else in the world it's going to affect what you pay at the gasoline pump."

Bush's new energy initiative calls for reducing gasoline consumption by up to 20 percent over 10 years by increasing alternative fuels and raising fuel economy standards for cars.

In Delaware, Bush toured the DuPont Experimental Station to tout to its research on cellulosic ethanol, one of the main fuels Bush backs as an alternative to oil.

He took a hands-on approach as scientists walked him through the process of converting raw materials to fermentable sugars to fuel.

Bush picked up bottles of milled corn stover, poked his fingers into a beaker of wood chips and picked up a handful of switchgrass.

"What our citizens got to know is that because of the research you're doing here, with some of their taxpayers' money to help you, that switchgrass .... could end up being the fuel that powers their automobiles," Bush said in the DuPont greenhouse. "That's important."

DuPont is leading a science-based consortium that is researching how to break down entire corn plants, including the stalk and leaves, into biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol.

Bush has rejected requiring automakers to boost the fuel economy of their new car fleets, and he continues to oppose mandatory reductions of so-called "greenhouse" gases.

With Democrats running Congress and his own popularity slumping, Bush had to offer a modest agenda in his State of the Union speech.

His energy plan, along with a health insurance programme, were the signature items.

Speaking from the New York Mercantile Exchange, Ira Eckstein, from the oil-trading firm Area International Trading Corporation, said many of the points in the President's speech had been made before.

Eckstein said fuel efficiency was not likely to affect the markets anytime soon.

More politically aware petrol consumers in Washington, DC watched President Bush's speech on Tuesday night - and had mixed reactions.

While some were pleased that President Bush had proposed any plan to deal with oil dependency, others said it should have been planned and acted upon years ago.