Launches To Be Seen For Auto Expo 2012!!

Despite the economic slow don faced by the auto industry the carmakers have decided to shrug off the slowdown and launch over two dozen automobiles in 2012. Perhaps there's no other way. Growth in car sales dipped by 4% in the first eight months of this fiscal year as against a robust growth of 30% the year before.

If carmakers have to turn the tide, the only way to do that is to woo consumers with more. "New cars are the best bet to revive fortunes. Every new car generates excitement leading to incremental sales and better volumes, which is the need of the hour," says Abdul Majeed, partner for the automotive practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Manufacturers are also counting on interest rates coming off their highs and a re-alignment in the petrol-diesel price skew, which will spur demand for petrol models. Manufacturers such as Maruti, Toyota, Ford and Renault Nissan are investing in capacity expansions to cater to the next two to three years of growth.

Some of them are also engineering their models to suit local tastes and conditions. ET takes you through the most exciting launches lined up for 2012. Which one will you choose?

Ertiga, a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), will herald Maruti Suzuki's entry into the utility vehicle space. It will also be the first compact MPV on Indian roads. Based on the RIII concept that Maruti Suzuki showcased at the Auto Expo of 2010, the Ertiga multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is likely to be priced between Rs 6 and Rs 9 lakh. The car is likely to be available in both petrol and diesel options and will challenge the Toyota Innova.