NEW DELHI: For the Indian automobile industry, which is heading to its first drop in sales in 12 years this fiscal, the 12th edition of the Auto Expo 2014 could herald its coming of age.Automakers have opened their purses for a slew of mega launches and to parade their latest concepts in a market weighed down by wary customers who are delaying purchases on considerations such as uncertainty of jobs, a worsening economy and soaring fuel prices.Most of them are despondent and don't expect a market revival soon, yet some of the carmakers have spent as much as Rs 25-30 crore each at the expo this year."Everything is in a limbo. I've stopped being disappointed. I've become zen-like," Anand Mahindra, chairman and managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra, said on Wednesday, the first day of the expo. The country's largest utility vehicle maker is better placed than some others. "SUVs are not going to go away," Mahindra said, adding that his company is eyeing urban agglomeration mobility that would look at filling every opportunity that presents itself, including the last mile connectivity from metros to home.Arvind Saxena, MD of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India, said, "We are not expecting the market to turn around anytime soon."He, however, added that the German carmaker will use the expo to connect with customers and to showcase new products and technologies. "India is an important market for Volkswagen, and over the next few months and years, we look forward to launching new products engineered specially for the Indian market," he said.Many head honchos used the occasion to spent time with their colleagues and raise their morale.Cyrus Mistry, chairman of the Tata Motors, spent at least three hours at Tata Motors and Jaguar-Land Rover stalls and even clambered on to the wheel of a Prima Truck to check out the functions first hand. The company is showcasing several products - as planned by the late Karl Slym, who tragically jumped to his death late last month - that are expected put it back in growth trajectory.Mistry's predecessor Ratan Tata arrived an hour later and headed straight to the JLR stalls, evoking a lot of warmth from the JLR officials led by CEO Ralf Speth.Tata, known for his graciousness towards rival companies, has always made it a point to visit almost every stall at the Delhi Auto Expo every year. This year was no different. He seemed particularly interested in concept cars.Both Tata and Mistry, who took over from him last year, visited stalls of Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Ford, General Motors and Ashok Leyland, among others.At the two-wheeler pavilion, Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj was excited to see Piaggio big boss Roberto Colaninno visiting his stall. He nudged his in-house photographer to take pictures that he could take home to show his father and company chairman Rahul Bajaj.There were many launches on Day 1. Some of those vehicles will hit the market in a few months, some others in a few years.Market leader Maruti Suzuki launched the concept CIAZ sedan and SX4 cross over in premium segments. "These vehicles reflect our thought and belief in the Indian market," company MD and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said.One of the most upbeat head honchos at the venue was Joe King of Audi India, the leader in luxury market. "We have kick-started 2014 on a strong note though we have not kept any sales targets for the Indian market," he said."Also we will continue with our network expansion strategy and plan to increase our network to 40 dealerships by end of 2014," he said.The Auto Expo has shifted out of Delhi for the first time this year - to a bigger area of 60,000 sq feet at Greater Noida, 50 km from the main city.The rentals at about Rs 6,000 per sq feet, is lesser than what the organisers paid for earlier venue Pragati Maidan last year, but is more expensive than some of the foreign auto shows.While the new venue is spacey and plusher, executives of at least three automakers said the public turnout may not be as high as usual because of the distance. "There are logistical issues as well. Problems of water supply and electricity," one of the executives said.