China's auto industry has attracted a lot of attention in recent months, and for good reason. The country has already surpassed the United States as the world's biggest auto market, and with numbers like the ones just posted by GM—a 67 percent rise in sales in 2009 in China, for a total of 1.8 million vehicles, with a December showing of 96.6 percent over the previous year (189, 793 vehicles sold in a single month!)—it's no wonder. With sales like that, it almost doesn't matter what happens in the rest of the world. And GM is predicting that 2010 will be even better in China.

The Scorpio SUV from India's Mahindra and Mahindra

But India, that other Asian emerging power, is also reporting huge sales increases for 2009. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the largest car maker in the country, sold 36% more cars this December than last year. Hyundai India's sales rose by 42%. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India's largest maker of sport-utility vehicles and tractors, more than doubled its sales in December, sending its stock soaring to the highest level ever seen.

India's economy is on track for growth of as much as 8 percent in the year ending March 31, according to the Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. This growth is second only to that of China among the world's major economies. Growth has been strong across the board, and the auto industry will grow at "double digits" in 2010, according to the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), speaking at the 10th India Auto Expo, the seven-day exhibition that opens today in New Delhi. Growth in India will be about 16 percent, to 1.4 million vehicles in 2010.

Growth will not be confined to passenger vehicles in India. R. Seshasayee, former president of SIAM, said that "the economy is on a rebound and consequently the medium heavy duty commercial vehicle (MHCV) industry will also see corresponding levels of growth. I see a great degree of confidence amongst the trucking community and transport community. I see plenty of money being available and therefore demand is pretty robust . . . So we will see growth and we will see good double digit growth in FY10-11."

In North America, auto sales rebounded in the final months of 2009, but a lot of the sales were incentives-driven. GM, for example, paid dealers $7,000 for every new Saturn or Pontiac they move into rental vehicle or service vehicle fleets. Once there, the cars can be sold as "used" at huge discounts for buyers. A brand new Pontiac G3 compact could cost as little as $8,000. Will the sales continue without the incentives?

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