CHENNAI: JAW-dropping motorcycle stunt shows and exhibits from leading automobile manufacturers, including the homegrown luxury carmaker, DC Design, saw the first edition of the Express Auto Expo 2016, organised by The New Indian Express, pull in over 5,000 visitors on the first day.
The two-day expo was inaugurated on Saturday by Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu, in the presence of M Kiran Kumar, vice chairman, DC Designs and CMD, Lalithaa Jewellery Mart, and Siddharth Sonthalia, GM (TN), The New Indian Express Group.
While the Auto Expo had all the standard accouterments that accompany typical auto shows, including easy financing schemes and exchange offers, the biggest attractions during the first day were the Indian-made sports coupe DC Avanti and the two heart-thumping stunt shows put on by the Chennai-based stunt group PRO-Guyz Stunts Inc.
One-hour long shows performed by the group twice - in the afternoon and the evening - drew several hundreds of visitors, some of whom were actually asked to ride pillion with the stuntsmen on bikes that shifted from stoppees to wheelies at the snap of a finger.
Inside the 15,000 sq ft exhibition area of the Express Auto Expo 2016, were stalls from automakers like DC Design, premium motorcycle firm Harley Davidson, Ford, Porsche models from Fiat, Hyundai, Honda, Mahindra and Mahindra, Mahindra Two Wheelers, Tata Motors, Mercedes Benz and other leading manufacturers.
The three vintage Morris models at the vintage vehicles stands were also a major crowd attraction.
The two-day expo will continue on Sunday and will be open from 10.30 am to 8 pm, with two stunt shows in the afternoon and later in the evening. Admission is free.