Made in India

Much of the auto industry's growth will come not from the U.S., but China and India. On TIME.com today, contributor Nandini Lakshman reports from Mumbai on the growth of India's auto sector. Key takeaways:

With auto sales in the West in a deep slump, 2009 saw carmakers increasingly focus on developing countries like China and India, which have largely shrugged off the global recession and where disposable incomes continue to grow rapidly. China this year will surpass the U.S as the world's largest car market, while India has become the largest market for small cars....

On Dec. 12, Volkswagen announced its first made-in-India compact, the Polo, which will be manufactured at Chakan, 110 miles (175 km.) from Mumbai. India will also be the lead country for Honda Motors' planned global small car — tentatively named the 2CV — which will begin selling by the end of 2011. Struggling General Motors began producing the pint-sized Chevrolet Spark in India last year and plans to roll out another compact, the Chevrolet Beat, in the first half of 2010, while Ford Motors CEO Alan Mulally unveiled a made-in-India four-door hatchback, the Figo, in New Delhi in September.... Meanwhile Nissan's Micra hatchback will debut in India in May.

Read the full article here. For more, read TIME South Asia Bureau Chief Jyoti Thottam's video and text pieces about the Nano, the world's cheapest car. Made in India, of course.