Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, revealed on Tuesday that India will soon be in a position to export lithium-ion batteries. Speaking at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ (SIAM) 64th convention in New Delhi, Gadkari emphasized the strides India is making in lithium-ion battery production and research.
India’s Progress in Battery Manufacturing:
According to Gadkari, several Indian companies, including Tata, Maruti, Adani, LG, and Samsung, have ventured into lithium-ion battery production. He expressed confidence that India will soon become a global player in this field, similar to the country’s progress in semiconductor manufacturing.
EV Market Growth:
Gadkari also highlighted the rapid growth of India’s electric vehicle (EV) market, which is expected to reach one crore units in annual sales by 2030. This expansion will create five crore jobs, with the potential to become a ₹20 lakh crore market by the same year. To remain competitive, the industry must focus on quality, innovative designs, and advanced technology.
Government Initiatives and Testing Agency:
The government is working on establishing a world-class testing agency for vehicle manufacturing research. A new CIIT Training Institute is being built in Pune with a sanctioned budget of ₹450 crore, which will ensure top-notch testing and research facilities.
Scrappage Policy and Industry Support:
Gadkari urged the automobile industry to support the government’s scrappage policy, which aims to promote the removal of old vehicles from the roads. He praised the industry’s decision to offer a 3% discount to customers who scrap their vehicles, noting that it could reduce component costs by 20-40%. He also called on manufacturers to set up their own scrappage centers.
Future Vision for the Automobile Industry:
In his closing remarks, Gadkari stressed the automobile industry’s key role in India’s economic transformation. He outlined the ambition to make India the top auto manufacturing hub in the world, with a focus on sustainable practices and achieving carbon-neutral status by 2070.