Auto industry to work on reducing pollution
The Government aims to create core global competencies in India by facilitating the seamless integration of the automotive industry with the world, said Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
Considering the huge potential of the sector, the Government has earmarked over Rs.51,000 crore for the auto sector under Production Linked Incentive (PLI), the highest amongst the 10 champion sectors listed for global markets.
The Government is trying to create an ecosystem to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles in the country, he told a virtual conference 9th Edition of Auto Serve 2020 ‘Electric Mobility Conference 2020 – Seizing Opportunities in New Normal’ on 23 Nov 2020.
He has urged the auto industry to come together to work jointly towards achieving broader national agenda of reducing pollution.
The Government has taken steps to promote electric vehicles which include a reduction in GST to 5%, allowing delinking of the battery cost of 2-3 wheelers from vehicle cost as it accounts for nearly 30% of the cost etc.
The battery charging ecosystem is very important, as such the Government is planning to set up at least one electric vehicle charging kiosk at around 69,000 Petrol Pumps across the country to induce people to go for electric mobility.
“The Government is also working towards making India a global automobile manufacturing hub in the next five years. This is my dream,” he stressed.
This, he felt, is possible as the auto industry has made significant strides in terms of the development of different designs and models, robust R&D, huge market, stable government frame-work and bright & young engineering minds.
India has emerged as the largest manufacturer of two-wheelers in the world.
He also stated that there is a huge requirement for about 25 million skilled jobs in the automobile sector in near future. This very significant as this industry is going to create maximum jobs and growth, he added.
Gadkari further called upon the automobile industry to push for manufacturing flex engines which have the versatility to use petrol or ethanol/CNG as fuels. a
Citing the Brazilian and US auto sectors, he exuded confidence that the Indian industry would utilise the opportunity being thrown up by the alternative and less polluting fuels like CNG, hydrogen, electricity.
While the government is working towards making e-Highway on Delhi and Mumbai Expressway, the auto sector should look at making different variants including double-decker busses to cater to the market needs, said the Minister. #manufacturng #makeinIndia #exports #investments #technologies #OPEC #fuel /fiinews.com
