The Indian auto industry is planning to soon organise 'Indian automobile shows' abroad, somewhere in West Asia to begin with, to push forward its claim of being a major manufacturing hub of two- and four-wheelers.

"This is the right time to do so. Export of cars from India has increased tremendously in the past year, and we need to reach out to the world and tell others that we produce the best quality," Subodh Bhargava, chairman (trade fairs) of the Confederation of Indian Industry, which is one of the organisers of the Auto Expo in New Delhi, said on Wednesday.

Bhargava said he expected a decision to be taken on this issue during the upcoming Auto Expo, which kicks off on January 15 in New Delhi.

He said that though there was talk during the last Expo in 2002 about hosting a show in Dubai, the idea could not take off as the industry was not performing so well.

In the financial year 2003-04, cars sales are expected to grow at 25 per cent while commercial vehicle sales even higher at 30 per cent or more.

He added that several new measures -- such as increasing entry fee during business as well as general hours -- are being taken this year to make the show a more 'serious' affair.

Several international auto-makers including Nissan, Audi, DaimlerChrysler, Suzuki, Piaggio, Hyundai, Skoda, Volvo, are among 960 exhibitors from 20 countries who will participate in the Delhi show this year. Among other players are Tata Motors, Bajaj, Ashok Leyland, Hero Motors and TVS Motor, Bhargava said.

But some big names will be missing this year including General Motors, Ford, Honda Siel, Toyota, among others.

The show is organised jointly by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, apart from Confederation of Indian Industry.

Bhargava said that the organisers had done a survey, which found that the Auto Show was not more expensive than any other such shows abroad. In fact, it was very competitive. He hoped that the absentees this year will come back in the next edition.