Kumaraswamy assures support to build robust & globally competitive EV ecosystem in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, July 4
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Saturday chaired a meeting here with leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers and held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening indigenous manufacturing and building a robust, innovation-driven and globally competitive electric mobility ecosystem in the country.
During the interaction, the electric two-wheeler manufacturers briefed the Union Minister on their journey in developing homegrown electric mobility platforms and technologies.
They highlighted their focus on indigenous engineering, product development and domestic manufacturing capabilities, and shared their vision for positioning India as a major global manufacturing hub for electric two-wheelers.
The stakeholders also briefed Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on the evolving requirements of the electric two-wheeler industry and the need for continued policy support to further deepen domestic manufacturing.
They shared their perspectives on incentives for the sector and measures that could help Indian manufacturers scale up production and strengthen their presence in domestic and export markets.
The manufacturers presented their views on the "PM E-DRIVE Scheme" and sought its extension, while also discussing the need for revision of the "PLI Auto Scheme" in line with the evolving requirements of the industry.
The "PM E-DRIVE" framework includes support for the electric two-wheeler segment as part of the Union government's wider clean mobility push.
The delegation also briefed Union Minister Kumaraswamy on opportunities to accelerate indigenous electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, strengthen domestic value addition and unlock India's electric vehicle export potential.
They also shared their vision for the future of mobility and sought the Union Minister's guidance on creating an enabling ecosystem for homegrown manufacturers to emerge as globally competitive players.
Responding to the industry representatives, H.D. Kumaraswamy assured them that the Ministry of Heavy Industries would extend all possible support towards strengthening the country's electric two-wheeler ecosystem and encouraging domestic manufacturing, innovation and exports.
The Union Minister said the Central government remains committed to building an ecosystem that enables Indian manufacturers to innovate, scale and compete globally, while contributing to the vision of "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" and "Viksit Bharat 2047".
Union Minister Kumaraswamy also underlined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national goal of achieving "Net Zero by 2070", stressing that the transition towards clean mobility and the growth of indigenous electric vehicle manufacturing would play an important role in realising this vision.
He emphasised that strengthening India's domestic manufacturing capabilities and creating globally competitive Indian enterprises would be central to the country's journey towards "Viksit Bharat 2047".
The delegation included Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Ather Energy; Mohal Lalbhai, Founder and CEO of Matter; Aravind Mani, Co-Founder and CEO of River; Saurav Kumar, Founder and CEO of Euler Motors; and Dinesh Arjun, Co-Founder and CEO of Raptee.HV.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see Kumaraswamy engaging directly with manufacturers. But 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' needs more than just meetings – we need concrete timelines for localizing lithium-ion production and reducing our dependence on Chinese imports. Still, a positive step in the right direction.
As someone who switched to an electric scooter last year, I can tell you the experience is great but the charging infrastructure is a pain. 😤 Hope this discussion leads to real improvements. Also, please extend the FAME subsidies – the price of EVs is still too high for middle-class families.
Interesting to see traditional politicians embracing tech startups. The PLI scheme revision is crucial – global competition from Vietnam and China is fierce. India needs to move fast if we want to be the two-wheeler EV hub of the world.
Bengaluru traffic is a nightmare, so electric two-wheelers make perfect sense for our city. 🛵⚡ But let's be honest – without affordable financing options and better battery life in Indian conditions, the adoption will remain slow. Hope the government listens to the industry's practical needs.
'Net Zero by 2070' sounds ambitious when our power grid still relies heavily on coal. But I admire the vision. At least two-wheelers are a good starting point – they're cheaper and more practical for Indian roads. Let's see if the follow-through is as strong as the promises.
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