Will Coronavirus steal the sheen of Auto Expo 2020?
The line-up at the show has companies coming from all over the globeGreat Wall Motors' Chinese delegation will be skipping the Auto Expo
The Auto Expo 2020 is just days away. Auto enthusiasts and companies have waited for two long years for this event. The line-up at the show has companies coming from all over the globe, including a lot of new Chinese brands. However, a dominant Chinese presence could also deter audience at the Expo. Coronavirus has already made an impact on the Auto Expo with Chinese delegations backing out at the last moment but the question here is will the growing threat take some sheen away from the Auto Expo?
Since the last Auto Expo, the subsidiary of a popular Chinese automotive brand, MG Motors has taken off in the Indian market. Following its success, other popular Chinese brands like Great Wall Motors are taking their first steps in the Indian market at the Auto Expo. However, the looming threat of Coronavirus is could take a toll at their participation. The virus has already claimed over 360 lives and has spread to over 27 countries.
Great Wall Motors has released a public statement claiming that the Chinese delegation of the company will be skipping the Auto Expo. However, the delegates that were already present in India before the outbreak have stayed back. The statement claims this has been done as a precautionary measure.
So far, three confirmed cases of Coronavirus have been reported in Kerala. The ministry has issued a new advisory urging Indians to avoid travel to China, the epicentre of the outbreak, adding that travellers on return could be quarantined.
“Anyone with travel history of China since 15th January, 2020, and from now on could be quarantined," the ministry said in the advisory issued on Sunday.
While there’s no visible dent in participation on the presenters’ side, it is still to be seen how the audience will react to the Coronavirus threat.
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