India Aims to Become Global Leader in EV Manufacturing by 2030, Says Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has reaffirmed India's ambition to become the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer by 2030. Speaking at an industry event on Monday, he highlighted the nation’s progress in alternative fuel vehicles and the growing demand for EVs both domestically and internationally.

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Gadkari emphasised that when the government came to power in 2014, the idea of large-scale EV adoption in India was met with scepticism. “At that time, no one believed in electric vehicles, but today, it is a reality,” he stated. He pointed out that India's automobile industry has expanded significantly over the years, growing from ₹14 lakh crore in 2014 to ₹22 lakh crore today. This growth has propelled India past Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market, trailing only the United States and China.

The minister expressed confidence in India’s trajectory towards EV leadership, citing declining lithium-ion battery costs and ongoing advancements in battery technology as key enablers. “Research in battery chemistry and innovations are rapidly increasing EV adoption. Some companies are already exporting half of their production, and we anticipate a significant surge in global and domestic demand,” Gadkari said.

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India has witnessed a rapid shift towards electric mobility, driven by government incentives, a push for local manufacturing, and increasing consumer acceptance. With policies such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme and Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for EV makers, the country has seen substantial investment in battery and vehicle manufacturing.

Despite the optimism, India faces several hurdles in its path to EV dominance. Infrastructure remains a key challenge, with a need for widespread charging networks to support mass adoption. Additionally, raw material dependency for lithium and other key EV components poses a supply chain risk, necessitating domestic research into alternative battery chemistries, such as sodium-ion and solid-state batteries.

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However, the industry’s response has been promising. Indian automakers, including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Ola Electric, have ramped up production and are launching new EV models across different price segments. Startups and legacy automakers alike are investing in R&D to localize production and reduce dependency on imports.

Currently, China leads the global EV market, accounting for the majority of EV production and battery manufacturing. The United States follows closely, with companies like Tesla and Rivian pushing innovations. India’s goal to surpass these giants by 2030 is ambitious but not unattainable, given the rapid advancements in the sector and strong policy support.