“>
As India’s auto sector embarks on electric mobility transition, scaling it will depend on charging infrastructure, grid preparedness and coordinated policymaking, speakers said at the 5th Global Electrification Mobility Summit (GEMS) organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday.
The summit brought together senior government officials, power sector regulators and automotive industry leaders to deliberate on how India can accelerate EV adoption while balancing affordability, sustainability and domestic manufacturing.
Key factors for next phase of EV growth
Union Minister for Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy said India’s electrification drive has gained momentum, with EV sales crossing a milestone.
“India’s automotive industry is among the fastest-growing globally, and our transition to electrification is firmly underway. With EV sales crossing two million units in FY25, plans for 70,000 charging stations, strong domestic manufacturing, and a vibrant startup ecosystem, India is well positioned to set global benchmarks on its journey towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy,” Kumaraswamy said.
Discussions in the opening session focused on aligning EV policies across ministries and building an integrated ecosystem to support adoption across vehicle segments, including buses and commercial vehicles.
Power sector integration under scrutiny
Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority Ghanshyam Prasad highlighted the growing role of distribution companies as EV penetration increases, particularly with the expansion of heavy-duty and last-mile charging.
He noted that value creation in the EV ecosystem would deepen when vehicles evolve from being grid-dependent consumers to contributors through vehicle-to-grid technologies.
From a state government perspective, Delhi government secretary Padma Jaiswal said India’s EV strategy must be tailored to local road conditions, climate and usage patterns, while also developing systems to recover critical minerals from end-of-life vehicles.
Industry flags localisation and charging economics
Industry leaders emphasised that electrification has moved beyond niche adoption. SIAM Electric Mobility Group chairman Sushant Naik said the focus must now shift towards localisation, financing mechanisms and scalable charging infrastructure to enable mass adoption.
SIAM president Shailesh Chandra said sustained R&D investments and ecosystem-wide collaboration would be critical to lowering costs and expanding EV affordability.
“Electrification is no longer niche; it is a mainstream economic driver. Sustained R&D, ecosystem-wide collaboration, and embedded sustainability will determine affordability and scale of EVs. As India stands at a defining global inflection point, the choices we make today will shape an electrification journey driven by innovation, scale, and long-term purpose,” Chandra emphasised.
Charging infrastructure and innovation in focus
Dedicated sessions at the summit examined charging infrastructure at scale, digitalisation of mobility, and emerging business models. Executives from Hyundai Motor India, BMW Group India, Yamaha Motor India and Olectra discussed new product launches and the policy environment shaping investment decisions.
Whitepaper on e-buses launched
During the ministerial session, SIAM released a whitepaper outlining a roadmap for faster adoption of electric buses, focusing on policy support, financing models and institutional coordination.
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries Hanif Qureshi said rising EV penetration, stable policy signals and programmes such as PM E-Drive were helping build momentum under the broader Automotive Mission Plan.
As India looks to expand electrification beyond early adopters, the summit highlighted that the next phase will be defined less by ambition and more by execution across power, manufacturing and mobility systems.
Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals.
Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox.
All about ETAuto industry right on your smartphone!
- Download the ETAuto App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles.