SIAM calls for systemic shift towards automotive circular economy

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Tuesday hosted the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Circularity, calling for a systemic shift towards embedding circular economy principles across India’s automotive value chain.

Held at the India Habitat Centre as part of SIAM Sustainable Mobility Week 2026, the conference focused on accelerating India’s transition to an automotive circular economy through policy leadership, innovation and collaborative action.

Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said increasing end-of-life vehicle (ELV) feed to Registered Vehicle Scrappage Facilities (RVSFs) remains critical, particularly in Delhi NCR. He flagged documentation gaps, unpaid challans and insurance issues as bottlenecks that need urgent resolution.Mahmood Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said nearly 125–130 RVSFs are operational, and emphasised that circularity must remain central as India expands the world’s second-largest road network.Speakers highlighted the need for stronger implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), improved digital tracking of ELVs, uniform testing through Automated Testing Stations and integration of circularity into product design and material innovation.

The conference also saw the release of a context paper titled “Accelerating India’s Transition to an Automotive Circular Economy”, reinforcing the need for coordinated action across government, OEMs, recyclers and research institutions to balance growth with environmental responsibility.