Come September, and the city rejoices with its second bout of showers. That's what happened this lastalso - but with a change. This time the showers came along with a host of other events in the city, among which the Auto Fair 2000 stands apart. Considered the biggest auto fair in the whole of South India, it began on September 16, 2000 and lasted for five days.

The event was unique in attracting the young and the old alike. There were automobiles designed exclusively for kids. Senior citizens cruised through a bygone era in the vintage cars section. The younger generation was in a fix - the choice of vehicles in the two-wheeler and four-wheeler category was absolutely stunning, with the latest technology blending with aesthetic designs.

The huge set-up was constructed at a cost of Rs 4 lakhs and as many as eighty companies took part. Speaking to bangalorebest.com, the Chairman of the Fairs and Exhibitions Department at FKCCI
C M Jolad said that the event created awareness among the public about various automobiles.

The event showcased many conventional vehicles running on petrol along with various vehicles that used other non-conventional, eco-friendly fuel like batteries and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). The mid-sized family car REVA was the unique exhibit. REVA claims to be the first car in India that runs completely on electricity. The city-based Maini group is manufacturing this car under a technological tie-up with a USA-based Amerikon Electric Vehicle technology.

Several authorized dealers of LPG convertor kits expected a greater demand for their product. One such dealer, Mr Ashok, told bangalorebest.com that by incorporating the LPG convertor kits, a car owner can save up to 50 per cent over the fuel cost. He also stressed the need for getting the services of certified mechanics only.

Another product which saw brisk sales was security equipment which would alert the vehicle owner in case of theft. The equipment had a variety of features specifically designed for two and four wheelers.

The major two-wheeler giants, Bajaj and TVS-Suzuki, exhibited their wide range of vehicles, comprising the latest and yet-to-be-released models. The forth-coming models of these companies are targeting the younger generation with varying engine capacities. Bajaj created a virtual 'Bajaj Planet' that stole the show wherein it exhibited exclusive models like Fusion, Saffire, Sunny Spice and Eliminator (16 HP) which they claim is the ultimate riding machine.

The crowd puller among the TVS-Suzuki exhibits was Fierro. Marketing Personnel at the stall said,"Fierro is going to rule the roads with its 12 BHP power. It also has features like 150 cc engine and an unbeatable pick-up that makes it worth buying. Mileage plays an important role in the purchasing criterion, and we promise a handsome mileage of
55 kilometers a litre with Fiero."

Other exhibits included automobile accessories like wind glasses, stereo systems, cushions, spare parts and other automobile related items like paints, polishes, lighting equipments, lubricants, batteries, automobile magazines and others. The participants included big names like Daewoo, Volvo, Toyota and Blue Lines.